New Perth and Kinross Council houses due to be built near Letham Primary

Nov 20 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SCHOOL grounds will make way for Perth’s first new council houses in almost 25 years.

A planning application lodged by Perth and Kinross Council has revealed that a playing field and an adjacent derelict garage lock-up area at the Fair City’s Letham Primary have been earmarked for the landmark development.

The local authority’s proposals would see six, two-storey terraced houses with gardens and parking bays being erected close to the Struan Road school, with road upgrades also in the offing.

Part of the conversion process would involve the removal of existing hardstandings and planting features at the site, with a school adventure trail and a security fence also set to be relocated.

It was back in April that the council revealed it had secured Scottish Government funding to bring new council houses to Perth and Kinross for the first time since the 1980s.

Ministers pledged £650,000 towards the area’s local authority housing, but the council will be providing the lion’s share of the cash.

PKC is putting up almost £3 million for the six Perth homes and 20 properties in Methven.

Work on the houses, which will have four or five bedrooms each, is expected to start next year, with completion due in 2011.

The council’s housing and health committee convener Peter Barrett described the scheme as “a major investment in housing”.

“These will be the first council houses built locally since 1985,” he said. “These houses will provide acutely needed affordable homes for local families.”