Ambitious £40 million plans for a new road, housing, school and up to 5,000 new jobs on Perth’s outskirts have taken a massive step forward.
Plans to begin buying huge swathes of land for the Perth Transport Future Project were backed by councillors.
To ensure the first phase can go ahead, Perth and Kinross Council must secure the rights to land along the A9/A85 corridor.
This will be done through negotiations with owners and compulsory purchase orders.
The route, which will service the proposed new school at Bertha Park, is the first section of the planned Cross Tay Link Road between the A93 at Scone and the A9.
Contracts for the work will be awarded in December 2015, with a view to starting construction by early 2016. It is anticipated this could last up to two years.
Council leader Ian Miller described the scheme as “hugely important” for the future of the area.
He said: “The purpose of this first phase is to allow for the development of new housing, business and other new infrastructure, including a new school.
“The provision of this road will also help to reduce traffic congestion in the A9/A85 junction area and also help to reduce pollution levels.
“What you are being asked to approve is simply the commencement of the compulsory purchase order process of necessary land, which will allow the project to go ahead.
“I would stress that, wherever possible, we will continue to negotiate with the various landowners to acquire the land by agreement.”
Funding of £23.5m was committed by the council in June last year.