Broughty Ferry’s controversial conservation areas will be extended if plans are approved by the city council on Monday.
Plans to increase the size of the Forthill, Grove and Reres Hill areas to include more addresses have been welcomed by the local community council but rejected by architects.
Secretary of the Dundee Institute of Architects Rodger Brunton said: “There are enough levels of bureaucracy in the system already and moves such as these can, in fact, cause people to act illegally because they don’t want to get involved in the difficulty of dealing with planning permission.
“In a time when local councils are complaining of lack of staff, it seems unnecessary to add to their workload and add the need to police the simplest of things.
“Hardly a meeting of the institute goes by without the difficulties caused by these areas being brought up. The institute works across all of Tayside and Fife and further afield and these are needless difficulties put in our way.
“Protecting valuable buildings within the community is good and is something we will contribute to, but this level of support is completely unnecessary.
“Three years ago, planning regulations were changed and allowed a more streamlined process, but the growth of these conservation zones now feels like the local government attempting to worm their way back into the process and control the planning environment.”
David Hewick, planning secretary at Broughty Ferry Community Council, said: “The extensions were suggested by the community council and it’s very positive to see they’ve been taken on.
“Broughty Ferry is a beautiful town and we’re lucky to have these conservation areas. The attractive buildings and the character of the place can be safely supported and we actually see house prices rise in areas inside the conservation areas, as people approve of the effort to keep the town looking good.”
Development committee convener Will Dawson said: “It is great to see the level of engagement with this exercise and the level of support from the communities covered by the conservation areas. It is important we have the backing of residents.”