Balance of the Hill must be maintained

Mar 4 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Dear Editor, – I noted with interest the position taken by Perth Civic Trust in opposing the proposed housing development in the grounds of St Mary’s Monastery on Kinnoull Hill. The Trust is partly concerned that “a precedent may be created which may make it difficult for the council to refuse future planning applications from a number of other landowners who wish to develop their own plots on Kinnoull Hill for residential purposes”.

Representing a landowner with just such an interest, I am bound to underline the importance of assessing each planning application on its own individual merits. Edinmore has already submitted a planning application for four houses to be built on land located between Bellwood Park and Fernhill Road. Alongside some limited residential development, our proposals also offer an opportunity for more than nine acres of land on the Hill to be retained in perpetuity as open space, managed by the local community.

There will never be a shortage of people who want to live on Kinnoull Hill and the provision of additional housing in the locality in recent years has contributed positively to addressing this demand while ensuring the unique environment that makes Kinnoull Hill such a desirable place to live is preserved.

Any future development on the Hill needs to contribute to maintaining this balance. Whether by generating the funds to allow a historic listed building to be suitably maintained or by extending the permanent boundary of open space on the Hill, applications for further development need to demonstrate they are making a positive contribution to the local environment to be positively assessed. They also need to be sensitive and in keeping with their surroundings. I hope the local community will take a pragmatic view and consider our proposals – and those put forward by others – against these criteria.

Angus Crow,

Managing Director,

Edinmore,

2 Rutland Square,

Edinburgh EH1 2AS.