The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Farm science institute free to plough on with future expansion plan
Plans for a big money development of an International Barley Hub and Advanced Plant Growth Centre have been approved.
The world-renowned James Hutton Institute submitted detailed plans for the state-of-the-art science, farm and field facilities to Perth and Kinross Council (PKC).
PKC’s planning and placemaking committee met last week to scrutinise plans for the Carse of Gowrie innovation centres which have now been financially supported by the Tay Cities Deal.
The two projects are expected to create 470 jobs in Tayside and a further 2,200 jobs across the wider Scottish and UK economy.
It has been funded by £45 million from the UK Government and £17 million from the Scottish Government as part of the £700m Tay Cities Region Deal.
The plans – drawn up by Oberlanders Architects -– were put before Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and placemaking Committee on Wednesday, August 10 and recommended by council officers for approval.
The in-principle plans were previously approved by PKC’s then planning and development management committee in November 2020.
The institute is situated on Errol Road, Invergowrie, and the latest application is part of a wider 94-hectare site west of Invergowrie and south of the A90.
The two-storey International Barley Hub will be linked to the one-and-a-half storey Advanced Plant Growth Centre via a new building.
The aim of the £35m International Barley Hub is to help develop new varieties of the crop and growing systems able to cope with climate change – as well as finding new uses for barley – and help secure the long-term future of the barley sector.
The £27m Advanced Plant Growth Centre aims to revolutionise crop production systems to produce food locally, all year round, with less of an impact on the environment.
Councillors were told the additional buildings would not exceed 18 metres in height and would be finished in metal cladding in a combination of red/ ochre and dark.
Officers said it would “not appear out of place” within its context and “the materials complement the surroundings”.
The plans were unanimously approved.
Building work is expected to be completed in early 2024.