Developers behind plans for a huge expansion of Perthshire’s biggest town have been told to brace themselves for a backlash.
A new master plan for Blairgowrie envisages hundreds of homes as well as a hotel, supermarket, care home and possibly a new school.
The development, which is earmarked for about 70 acres of agricultural land on the western edge of town, was revealed to residents as part of a consultation drive.
Up to 400 homes could be built over three phases if the ambitious vision is formally adopted.
Residents and local business owners have hit out at the plans, however, claiming they would seriously increase traffic and spoil countryside views.
If approved, a supermarket, believed to be either Aldi or Lidl, would be built on Perth Road alongside a budget hotel and new businesses, creating scores of jobs.
Perth and Kinross Council has asked for part of the huge development to be zoned for education, potentially a new primary school.
The proposals, which were revealed at a busy public event at Rattray Community Centre, received a mixed response from residents.
While many agreed there is a great demand for new houses, particularly affordable accommodation, they claimed an influx of traffic could lead to chaos on the roads.
There are also concerns scenic views from homes and businesses living on the edge of the site could be lost forever, along with wildlife habitats.
Architects said all feedback from residents would be taken on board and the proposals would be revised before a formal application for planning consent is lodged in the coming months. They added the proposed care home could be dropped after residents told them it was not needed.
Murray Yeoman, a senior partner with Yeoman McAllister Architects, which is developing the master plan on behalf of developers Westpark Partnership, said: “We’ve been working on these plans for about a year, but we are still at a very early stage.
“What we are doing now is speaking to local people, hearing what they have to say and making any changes before we take the plan further.”
He said a traffic impact assessment would be carried out to establish the effect of new traffic on the roads.
Fellow architect Derek Pirouet said concerns about congestion could be overcome before any work begins.
“There are issues that will have to be fully addressed,” he said. “For example, we have plans for a care home but that might be taken out because we are being told there isn’t the need for it.”
Resident Robert Armsworth, who lives on the edge of the development site, said: “Part of the problem is that this is going to bring more traffic on to the Perth road. Traffic flow through Blairgowrie is already bad enough as it is. We have very serious concerns about this.”
He said part of the site will be built on a bog, which could cause drainage problems, although architects stressed a full drainage assessment would also be carried out in due course.
Jillian Merrouche, who has run Gilmorehouse guest house on the outskirts of the earmarked site for 18 years, said the plans could harm her business.
“We market our B&B as having great views of the countryside,” she said. “But that will be all gone if this development goes ahead. It’s not just me, it’s going to affect everyone whose homes overlook this land.”
She added: “I also have concerns about red squirrels living in the woods that would be turned into the hotel. The developers have to do this sympathetically, with the environment in mind.”
The public will get the chance to table any objections in the coming weeks once plans have been lodged with the council.