Drunzie housing development plans refused

Nov 27 2009 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PLANS for eight houses on a field at Drunzie, between Glenfarg and Milnathort, have been knocked back.

The development control committee of Perth and Kinross Council unanimously refused consent to Mark Drysdale, from Carnbo, despite the application being recommended for approval by development quality manager Nick Brian.

After considering the plans and hearing a deputation against the new houses from two local residents, the committee concluded that the lay-out, scale and height of the eight new homes would have an adverse effect on the amenity of adjacent houses.

One of the objectors described Mr Drysdale’s plans as “dense and an urban-type development which is against the rural nature of the settlement.”

The height of the proposed houses caused considerable concern among the residents, including ward Councillor Willie Young who said: “One-and-a-half to two storeys on an elevated site will have a significant effect.

“The developer should come back with another application for a one-storey house on the most elevated part of the site and one-and-a-half for the rest of the site, and have them in a more random style rather than a solid row of houses.”

Moving refusal of the application, committee convener Willie Wilson said: “I was hoping for something a bit more in line with the character of the surrounding houses and countryside.”

He was seconded by Councillor Lorraine Caddell who said: “We should send a clear message that we would like a plan for the whole site, not an incremental approach, and we would like to see provision for two affordable units on the site.”