The public to get say on plans for Fair City supermarket

A fresh bid has been lodged to build a £40 million supermarket on the outskirts of Perth.

Developers want to renew planning permission for a store at the old Perth Mart site, off Crieff Road.

The proposal was first raised four years ago. Sainsbury’s had originally staked a claim in the development and said it could create more than 400 jobs.

However, the retail giant withdrew from the project after a court case with one of its biggest rivals. Tesco had appealed against Perth and Kinross Council’s decision to allow Sainsbury’s to begin work on the two-acre site before an upgrade of the A9/A85 junction.

Sainsbury’s has ruled itself out as a contender in this revived project and has stressed it is not looking to open up shop in Perth.

The original supermarket plan was lodged by Glasgowbased consortium Perth City West LLP, but the company went into administration in September 2014.

The new planning application has been submitted by administrators FRP Advisory.

It follows a formal proposal notice submitted to the council earlier this year.

A spokeswoman said project leaders were keen to keep alive planning permission, which is due to expire this year.

The public will now get the chance to have its say on the bid before a final ruling is made by council officers. When the plans were approved, the council laid down conditions to protect the “vitality and viability” of the city centre. Perth City West was told its one-and-a-half-acre selling floor would be made up of a minimum of 65% convenience items and a maximum of 35% of comparison goods.