Re-think on housing plan for new Blair development
Privately-owned homes to be included on site
The proposed social housing development at Blackthorn Place in Blairgowrie will now include an element of privately-owned houses.
And a new ‘local letting plan’ is to be introduced to give local authority housing officers greater discretion about who can be allocated the new homes.
The re-think first came to light at the most recent meeting of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council, held earlier this month in Rattray Church Hall, and was confirmed by local SNP councillor for the area, Bob Ellis, this week.
The Blairgowrie and the Glens councillor said: “I have listened carefully to the views of residents who currently neighbour this land to assess any concerns, and the very well-attended meeting at the campus last month left me in no doubt that I had to act on their concerns and
communicate these within the council’s administration.
“In essence, people are worried by what seems like a substantial transformation of the area’s character into something they had not envisaged when they first purchased their properties some years back.
“Following my representations on behalf of residents, I have now been assured that this mix of housing will be altered to include affordable houses for sale, which will add to existing owner-occupier tenure, bungalow units for rent to allow people to downsize from larger properties, and high quality modern homes for rent.
“In addition to this change, I am pleased that we will be introducing a ‘local lettings plan’ for this development which will give housing officers greater discretion about who can be allocated one of these new homes, and new tenants will also be required to sign up to a neighbourhood agreement.”
Councillor Ellis added: “We have an acute need for new social housing in Blairgowrie and I welcome the way in which these new properties will help to address this shortage.
“It is important, however, that we develop our housing offer in step with communities and I am pleased that the original proposition has been substantially changed to better reflect local concerns.
“The change to the housing mix, together with the added protection of a local lettings plan, now offers an excellent prospect to build this development site in a thoroughly positive and sustainable way.”
Perth and Kinross Council approved funding of nearly half a million pounds to Hillcrest Housing Association for the development of 71 units at Blackthorn Place, near the Blairgowrie Community Campus, earlier this year.