1800-home Almond Valley village earmarked for approval

Dec 6 2011 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PLANS for a large-scale development on the outskirts of Perth will be fiercely opposed by local residents at a public meeting tomorrow.

Permission, in principle, is being sought by agents Savills for 1800 homes, a primary school, and leisure, retail and office facilities, on 159 acres of land adjacent to Huntingtower and Ruthvenfield.

Surrounding roads would also be upgraded to ease traffic flow at the A9/A85 junction.

And councillors tomorrow will be recommended to approve the multi-million pound bid, which was lodged with Perth and Kinross Council in 2008, during a meeting of the development control committee.

But 175 objectors claim the potential development, labelled ‘Almond Valley Village’, should be rejected.

Representations suggest the application should be thrown out due to flooding, drainage and traffic issues, the potential loss of biodiversity, habitat and open space and concerns over the impact on the health of local people, due to pollution build-up and pylons.

Complainers also suggest the proposal is contrary to the local development plan, unsympathetic to the area’s historical importance, too close to a Scottish Gas network pipeline, and nearby settlements, such as Huntingtower and Ruthvenfield, will be adversely affected.

Methven community councillor and Huntingtower/Ruthvenfield Conservation Group member, Kenny Simpson is urging the committee to dismiss the proposal.

He told the PA yesterday: “They say this is going to be a new village.

“It isn’t, it will be an extension of Perth. It was included in the 1995 development plan, but then was removed in 2004 and designated a green belt site.

“It’s been up before and been knocked back. Nothing has changed and 100% of the residents are against it, so why should councillors support it?

“Everyone is getting fed up, the council should just put it to bed because it’s been hanging over everyone’s heads for 20 years.

“What about our quality of life? We are local residents who live here, the councillor should think about us and how our quality of life will be affected.

“Yes, they have to build homes but it doesn’t have to be here. Why not at Bertha Park or Methven?

“There are a lot of other options.”

And the local figurehead, who has staunchly defended building on the land for 20 years, went on to criticise the council for organising tomorrow’s meeting at short notice.

Notice

He continued: “We were barely given a week’s notice.

“I received a letter dated November 28 and told we were had until Friday 2nd to say if we wanted to issue any response in writing.

“This has been in their system since 2008, how many weeks ago did they know it was coming up this Wednesday?

“They could have given us more time to prepare.”

In a report to councillors, urging them to green-light the bid, development quality manager, Nick Brian said: “While alternative site options may exist, none is currently as well placed to deliver a new sustainable community, serving as a satellite settlement to Perth while additionally assisting to facilitate strategic regional transportation improvements for the wider area.

“The proposed development at the zoned Almond Valley site is therefore considered to accord with the development plan, will lead to the creation of new jobs, enhanced community and educational facilities and homes, which will significantly assist in meeting local and national targets in a sustainable and measured fashion.”

Mr Brian also states a link between Crieff Road and Inveralmond Industrial Estate will alleviate traffic concerns, the flood risk will be lessened by works and open green space will be retained within the site.

For over a decade, landowner, the Pilkington Trust, have submitted several planning applications in relation to the site, with the most recent in 2003.

The mixed use development was, however, withdrawn due to several unresolved issues and lack of information to appropriately assess and determine the application.