The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
First glimpse of plans for former prison site
THE PUBLIC will see plans for the former Friarton Prison site in Perth for the first time today.
A pre-application public exhibition will be held by developers Bellway Homes.
The national firm wants to build 64 houses on the prominent site, off Edinburgh Road and overlooking the Tay.
The sought-after area of land was bought by Bellway after going on the market in June.
The Scottish Prison Service sold the site after closing the Friarton Hall – a wing of nearby Perth Prison – when it was deemed surplus to requirements.
As well as the houses, the company wants to create access from both Edinburgh Road and Rhynd Road, as well as a future link to Friarton business park.
The early plans state: “The application site is the Friarton Hall Detention Centre to the south east of Perth.
“Bellway Homes are currently in negotiations with Scottish Prison Service regarding the site.
“The site is brownfield land and suitable for residential development, in accordance with policies set out within the local plan.
“The site area extends to 3.4ha and wraps around the existing housing to the south and west, which was built to provide accommodation for workers at Friarton Hall.
“To the north, the site is bounded by fields which fall away towards the business park along the River Tay.
“To the east the site is also bounded by open fields and the M90 Motorway. Craigclowan Preparatory School is located to the west of the new development and further residential development is located to the south on Rhynd Lane and to the east along Rhynd Road.
“The site offers views out over River Tay.”
All the houses would be two-storey and three-to-five bedroom in size. The development will include a play area.
Some of the housing may fall into the “affordable” category required by Perth and Kinross Council, or a commuted sum could be paid.
A new roundabout would be built on Edinburgh Road close to the existing entrance to the site, which would give access to Friarton Business Park.
The plans state: “The proposals are fully compatible with the plans to create a future
the link to the business park. The timing for provision of the link are unknown, but the design has been developed to accommodate the impact of the new roundabout and road.”
They continue: “Subject to this consultation exercise and further discussions with Perth and Kinross Council, it is proposed to submit a planning application early in 2013.
“The applicant and the design team will take account of all comments made as they further develop their proposals.
“A report will be prepared on the response to the consultation exercise, which would be submitted to the council in support of any planning application.”
The former HMP Friarton was merged with HMP Perth in 1999 and later became a young offenders’ institution and a national “top-end” facility for category C prisoners arriving from Polmont young offenders’ institution to serve the remainder of their sentences and prepare for release.
Only a quarter full and with inadequate facilities, Friarton Hall closed in March 2010 and inmates were moved to the recently-improved Polmont, near Falkirk.
The SPS resisted continued calls for it to be reopened to house more offenders, and demolition to clear the site took place over the winter.
The public exhibition takes place at Glenearn Community Campus, Glenearn Road, Perth, from 4pm to 8pm today.