Green light for new council houses on Struan Road

Feb 23 2010 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PERTH’S first new council housing project in more than two decades has a green light.

Plans for a terraced block of six, two-storey family homes upon the grounds of Letham Primary School at Struan Road were approved at last week’s development control meeting.

“The idea of building this type of housing development is excellent and there is a real need for such accommodation opportunities in Letham,” councillor Callum Gillies told his peers.

In response to a query from Cllr Gillies in relation to access, council roads department officer, Bruce McNaughton, said any potential road safety issues would be addressed by a new turning circle servicing the six homes.

“It’s designed as a shared surface for six houses, so the level of additional traffic will be very small,” he said.

Responding to claims by objectors that the council had failed to properly consult the community, convener Willie Wilson stressed that consultation requirements under new legislation had been undertaken.

“People have to get used to checking up – some people are not up to speed on this,” he said.

Councillor Gillies said that Fortingall Place residents, who had hoped new garages – instead of houses – would be erected on the site to replace defunct lock-up garages due for demolition, felt they had not been in the loop.

However, council planning officer, Anne Condliffe, said all neighbours near the development site had been notified.

Other objections had included concerns about potential loss of open space, adverse impact on residential amenities and loss of off-street parking.

But Cllr Wilson said the development was a critical contribution to the area’s limited stock of affordable housing.

“We all speak about the requirement for social housing and I think the site is an appropriate one,” he said.

“It’s in a housing area adjacent to a school and there’s a footpath nearby, and the geometry of the road will force people to drive slowly and carefully.”

He said if PKC was to meet the social housing demands of the future, projects such as the Letham development had to be a priority.

Cllr Gillies seconded the motion to approve the application, saying: “I understand some of the concerns coming from residents.”