Ambitious plans to build a major holiday village in rural Perthshire have been thrown out by councillors.
Edinburgh firm Exclusive Resorts tabled a bid for 30 lodges, a network of cycle paths and woodland walks at Gellybanks Farm, Bankfoot.
But the project hinged on the company also winning planning permission for 10 luxury homes on the edge of the site. Money made by selling off the private properties would provide vital financial backing for the tourism venture, agents said.
The scheme has been rejected by members of Perth and Kinross Council’s management development committee, amid fears it could impact on water supplies, cause traffic chaos and would be out of character with the surrounding area.
Committee convener Tom Gray said: “We’ve been in a situation like this before. There’s a danger we will simply end up with 10 homes in the countryside and no development. It’s a bad idea.”
Planners agreed the development went against council policy.
Agent Lindsay Manson argued that the project would have created 20 permanent jobs and around 24 indirect posts, as well as pumping hundreds of thousands of pounds into the area through tourism.
In an effort to persuade the committee to back his plan, Mr Manson said: “The benefits to the economy far outweigh the minor planning requirements.”
The proposal attracted 11 objections from locals. Douglas Baxter, who co-owns nearby Gellybanks Farm, argued that the water from the earmarked woodland site runs into a private water supply which is used by five neighbouring households.
He said excavation and other work could have an adverse impact on the supply. Concerns were also raised about a loss of privacy and potential noise problems.
In his report, the council’s development quality manager, Nick Brian, stated: “While there will be improvements to the recreational and educational offering on the site, when taking account of the development as a while, the proposal does not adhere to the overarching thrust of the development plan.”
Councillors unanimously agreed to refuse in-principle planning consent. Developers are considering lodging an appeal against the decision.