A head of steam is building up across Perth and Kinross as communities protest about the scale of proposed new house building which they see as a threat to all they hold dear.
A gentle murmur has become an outcry as people make clear their opposition to large scale housing developments which will change the face of villages and towns.
The pressures in Perth and Kinross are greater than elsewhere – the population is predicted to increase by a quarter in the next 25 years – but while presenting a huge opportunity to developers the quest for new homes is the stuff of nightmares for many.
The concerns are not just nimbyism – the scale of plans currently in the planning process go way beyond a few new homes.
A new village of 200 homes near Errol got backing from councillors a few days ago while a proposed 650 house plan for Luncarty would effectively double the size of the village, objectors point out.
The people of Kinross are unhappy as the gap with Milnathort closes with encroaching development and villagers in Scone mobilised forces recently to oppose a 700 home plan.
Despite protests, there seems to have been little impact in halting the insatiable desire for new housing the planners are predicting.
While some plans will be more acceptable than others, councillors and their planning staff face an uphill struggle in striking a balance on deciding where is appropriate for new homes.
While there is without a doubt a growing demand for houses in Perth and Kinross there is a definite danger to the things that attract people to the area – including villages surrounded by green fields, uncrowded rural schools and a sense of community.
The irony is that meeting the need for new homes might destroy many of the things that make Perth and Kinross an attractive in the first place – let’s hope that councillors make wise decisions and only accept the highest of standards of design as they scrutinise the never ending stream of new housing plans.
