Objectors to air views on Blairgowrie project

Feb 16 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

OBJECTORS will get the chance to air their views on a proposed near-100 home Perthshire development tomorrow.

Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee will be asked to consider nationwide housebuilders Miller Homes Ltd’s masterplan for unused farmland alongside the A923 Coupar Angus Road close to Blairgowrie’s Rosemount district.

The plan is for anywhere between 11 and 19 properties on each of the site’s five hectares, so up to 95 new homes could appear.

The council has received 16 letters of objection from nearby residents, including one from Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council, claiming there are already too many houses in the area.

But Nick Brian, the council’s development quality manager, says the proposed new roads and landscaped open spaces will mean “the number of units is likely to reduce”.

In a report, Mr Brian said: “The intention is to retain the attractive landscape setting and provide a significant amount of open space within the development.

A host of outside agencies, like the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Water, Scottish Natural Heritage and local archaeologists, were approached for their thoughts but didn’t raise any concerns.

The planned northern boundary will be next to existing housing at Moyness Park Drive, and it will be flanked to the east by the former railway line.

The project is recommended for approval, despite Mr Brian admitting it would be contrary to the local development plan.