Pitlochry short-term lets granted Appealsgreenlitundernewrules
Two Pitlochry shortterm let planning appeals have been granted in light of new guidance published after the applications were refused.
Both planning application decisions were appealed and subsequently deferred by Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) Local Review Body to allow council planners to reconsider the application taking the new guidance into account.
PKC’S planning service said it would now be happy to grant planning permission and councillors - reviewing the applications this week - agreed.
On Monday, April 15 PKC’S Local Review Body reviewed two separate planning appeals for one-bedroom flats at the bottom of Pitlochry’s Bonnethill Road seeking planning permission to be used as short-term lets.
The properties are considered to be in the town centre.
This merited a change in view relating to the non-statutory guidance published by Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) on November 1, 2023.
The guidance was created to provide some additional local clarity around the national planning policy for short-term lets, following the adoption of National Planning Framework 4 [NPF4] by the Scottish Government in February 2023.
On Monday, an independent planning advisor presenting the first application to councillors said: “The STL (shortterm let) guidance has indicated town centres may well be suited to the introduction of short-term let accommodation in terms of residential amenity and the area’s character.
“In this instance the flat is within Pitlochry town centre and whilst the flat is accessed by a communal entrance, this in itself did not form a ground for refusal.
“As such had the proposal been considered by the council as planning authority after November 1, 2023 the impact of this proposed STL unit on local amenity and character of the immediate vicinity is likely to have been considered acceptable.”
PKC planners acknowledged a consultation on a short-term let control zone for the area but that no such short-term let controlled area has yet been formally designated.
In light of the new guidance, planners concluded the loss of the flat to short-term let accommodation “would not have a significant impact on residential accommodation in the local area and whilst the economic benefits are likely to be modest this no longer constitutes grounds for concern” and would “likely have been considered acceptable” had planners considered the application after November 1 when the new guidance was published.
Planners took the same view of the neighbouring Bonnethill Road property owned by the same applicant Michelle Mcmillan.
The three councillors on the Local Review Body were happy to grant both appeals.
Convener Conservative councillor Bob Brawn said: “Given that situation, I am happy to agree completely.”
Fellow board members David Illingworth and Mike Williamson agreed.
Highland Perthshire SNP councillor Mike Williamson proposed a three-year temporary licence for both “on the understanding we were in consultation about creating a control zone but we don’t know what the outcome of that may or may not be”.
However the two Conservative councillors outvoted Bailie Williamson and permanent planning permission for the properties was granted.