House of Bruar has lodged a plan for a £2 million development to extend its mail order business in Perthshire.
The application has been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council by the firm, which offers quality Scottish clothing and produce, to protect its business from the possible effect of the construction phase of the project to dual the A9.
If approved, the development is expected to create 14 permanent jobs at Inch Farm, Ballinluig.
The company has already carried out a pre-application consultation with the council and delivered a presentation to Mid-Atholl Community Council.
The aim of the proposal is to grow the company’s mail order business by consolidating operations at the warehouse and office in Ballinluig.
The plans include the construction of four new warehouses, a new office and an extension to the existing car park.
If passed by the local authority, the development will proceed in two phases, with work on the first stage beginning this autumn.
A spokesperson for the House of Bruar said: “This proposal is a strategic decision to try and protect the operation of the business during the A9 dualling project by separating the mail order business from the retail estate at Bruar, which will reduce the potential impact the construction process will have on traffic flows and journey times.
“Each phase will generate new and permanent jobs within Highland Perthshire, and the House of Bruar has a long-established track record in investing and supporting local job creation.
“It is projected that, once completed, 14 new and permanent local jobs will be created.”
He continued: “Extensive technical investigations have been undertaken in order to assess the impact of the project.
“Key considerations have been to ensure that the proposed development is integrated within the existing landscape and that sensitive viewpoints and neighbouring properties are protected against any visual impact through a combination of layout and landscape planting.
“The management of surface water has been assessed in order to ensure the development does not place existing or neighbouring properties at risk of flooding.
“Traffic movements have been assessed in order to test the capacity of the trunk road network to accommodate the phased delivery of the project.
“These conclude that it is considered the proposal is compatible with surrounding land uses and will not detrimentally impact the amenity of residential properties within the area. The trunk road network can accommodate this development and the site is not at risk of flood risk.”
Even so, preventative measures have been proposed in relation to traffic arrangements and surface water management.
“The proposed development positively responds to the planning policy context for the expansion of rural businesses and is a compliant use for this site,” the spokesman went on.
“Subject to planning permission being granted, the House of Bruar would commence phase one during the late autumn of 2014.”