Fresh row erupts over revival of Coupar Angus housing plan

controversial: Residents object to greenfield site being developed

Controversial plans for new housing at Coupar Angus have been revived.

Inverness businessman William Abernethy won consent to transform a greenfield site off Beech Hill Road in 2014, despite objections from local residents.

Similar plans for the one-and-a-half acre plot were rejected twice before.

Mr Abernethy has submitted a fresh bid to Perth and Kinross Council to rescue the project before it expires at the end of the month.

Mr Abernethy, who owns the land, is asking officers to renew planning permission for the unspecified number of houses.

It is understood that as many as five properties could be built at the field, which is next to the busy A923.

At a previous meeting, agents said Mr Abernethy is in his 90s and has been looking to tidy up his affairs. He plans to sell the site.

However, the revived proposal looks set to re-ignite controversy among residents.

David Roche, whose home overlooks the site, fought against the 2014 bid, insisting that Beech Hill Road is too narrow and could not cope with an influx of traffic.

He said: “There was no demand for houses here, and there still is not. The land has been for sale for three years.”

Mr Roche added there was sufficient land for new housing elsewhere in the Coupar Angus area.

“The access road is quite unsuitable for more traffic, being steep – it ices up in the winter – narrow, and a very bad junction where it meets Bogside Road.

“We seriously question the road department’s previous approval of any more traffic on this substandard lane, which is much-used by pedestrians,” he said.

The land was originally earmarked for agriculture, but changes to the Local Development Plan saw it zoned for housing.

In his submission to planners, Mr Abernethy’s agent Dave MacDonald, of Tain-based Highland Planning, confirmed no developer had so far been identified.

He said there were no objections from roads officials last time round.

“It is appreciated Beech Hill Road is narrow in parts and lacking in pedestrian-vehicular segregation, but – in this regard – it is no different from many of the old traditional access roads serving residential properties in this part of Coupar Angus,” it was stated.

We seriously question the road department’s previous approval of any more traffic on this substandard lane. RESIDENT DAVID ROCHE