Multi-million-pound plans have been lodged for a massive retail development on the edge of Perthshire’s biggest town.
Discount chains Lidl and Home Bargains are eyeing up land next to Blairgowrie, raising hopes for scores of new jobs.
But there is growing concern that the new out-of-town complex will have a negative impact on traders in the town centre.
The project will be part of the huge Westpark expansion, which includes designs for hundreds of new homes across 70 acres of fields and woodlands.
Councillors backed a masterplan for the site earlier this year, despite complaints from dozens of residents.
The Westpark Partnership has now submitted its planning application for the first phase of the project.
Among the paperwork is a retail impact assessment, which claims there will be minimal effect on shops in Blairgowrie town centre.
Local community council chairman Ian Richards said there had been a mixed response to the plans.
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“Generally speaking, the fact that Lidl is building a superstore on the edge of Blairgowrie is seen as a good thing, and will be healthy competition for Tesco,” he said.
“But the community council does have concerns about the threat to our town centre.”
Mr Richards said: “Blairgowrie is a pretty town, particularly coming in on A93 Perth road.
“Now the first thing people are going to see is a Lidl store. They are going to put in some screening trees, but we would like to see a lot more.
“We don’t want to see any gaudy signs greeting people coming into the town.”
He said there were also concerns about proposals for smaller retail units, alongside the two main superstores. “It depends how they are going to be rented out,” he said. “If it is going to be for business start-ups, then that would be a good thing.
“But if it is going to be for businesses that could threaten existing shops, that that would be a concern.
“Like many places, Blairgowrie is under pressure and we have our fair share of empty shops.”
Among those who objected to the masterplan was Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, who stays at nearby Newton Castle.
He said the scheme would be a “major intrusion” on farmland and would affect wildlife.
