The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Growing clamour to halt development as centrepiece ignored
Locals want to see Kinross High School restored as part of the project
A failure to restore the former Kinross High School as the centrepiece of a housing development has caused anger locally.
Among those to call for a halt on the 91-home Persimmon Homes project until the restoration is carried out is Kinross-shire Civic Trust.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Kinross-shire Civic Trust (KCT) has consistently sought the retention of the Edwardian element of the old Kinross High School.
“It is totally unacceptable that the agreed extent of preservation of the building has not been adhered to. Only a damaged façade remains and even this has been left in a neglected and perilous state.
“KCT considers this latest revelation that new-build properties on the site are now occupied is a very serious matter.
“This is contrary to the planning condition that the Edwardian building should be fully restored before any other units could be occupied.
“This situation suggests to us that
KCT believes these serious breaches of agreed conditions by Persimmon must be enforced by the council as a matter of urgency
Perth and Kinross Council has failed to exercise adequate control by ensuring agreed planning conditions are met.
“KCT believes these serious breaches of agreed conditions by Persimmon must be enforced by the council as a matter of urgency.”
Kinross Community Council demanded a temporary stop is issued.
A council spokesperson said they had met the developers to discuss the breach of condition regarding the timing of the restoration works of the Edwardian school in advance of new build houses being occupied and had also taken legal advice.
“The council cannot withhold completion certificates issued under building standards legislation for the new build houses to achieve compliance with a planning condition,” they said. “It can and will use planning enforcement powers if necessary to ensure compliance.”
Persimmon Homes were unavailable for comment.
The row is the latest over housing developments in Kinross and elsewhere in the local authority area which has led to the formation of action group, the Perth and Kinross Planning Investigation Group (PKPIG).
Their concerns centre on the approval of major planning applications and the council’s “apparent lack of control over such developments once planning permission has been approved and the developments get under way”.