Objectors have failed to block a huge multi-million-pound expansion of Perthshire’s biggest town.
Developers secured consent for hundreds of new homes in Blairgowrie, despite pleas from dozens of local resident.
The Westpark project, which includes designs for a new supermarket and businesses, will be built across 70 acres of fields and woodlands on the edge of the town.
Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee unanimously approved the outline planning application at their meeting on Wednesday.
Although project leaders Westpark Partnership hope to create more than 400 homes over the next 15-20 years, the exact number will be determined by follow-up planning applications for each phase of the work.
Planners received nearly 80 objections against the scheme, which appears to have divided the community.
Objector James Paterson told the committee the new development, which is expected to include a Lidl supermarket, will have a negative impact on existing shops.
“When you read this paper, it comes across as ‘let’s get Lidl a building site at any cost’,” he said. “This is not bringing new wealth into the town, it is spreading the jam thinner.
“Quality of life is a key part of where any of us choose to live, but that applies to existing residents.
“In my lifetime, the population of Blairgowrie has nearly doubled but we have fewer amenities and functioning shops.”
Councillors heard “many people” were angry about plans to site shops next to a cemetery.
Among the objectors is former high court judge 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.
Newhill Primary School, which is close to the site, is at more than 90% capacity. Developers will be asked to contribute £6,460 per house to “enhance” primary school accommodation.
Ardlair Medical Practice has also raised concern about the possible influx of about 1,000 new residents.
SNP councillor Tom Gray called for the plan to be approved, saying: “As an ‘in principal’ application, I am perfectly satisfied that this conforms with the Local Development Plan.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Willie Wilson, who backed Mr Gray’s motion, added: “There has been a lot of discussion about this, but that doesn’t mean we’ll always get a lot of agreement.
“There’s always going to be angst about large developments and there are aspects of this that I am, quite frankly, not sure about.
“However, I think the planning conditions set out here will give us some comfort, in terms of the number of houses and the location of the commercial part of the application.”
