New proposals to regenerate the Muirton area of Perth have been approved by councillors.
Land belonging to Perth and Kinross Council will be sold to Fairfield Housing Cooperative to take forward the latest phase of the development.
As part of the ambitious £40 million project to breathe new life into the area, a further 25 affordable homes will be built.
A detailed planning application is expected to be submitted in May but assurances have been given that the properties will meet current demand.
Councillor Elspeth Maclachlan asked for confirmation that the latest development would consist of one, two and three bedroom properties and said she was “delighted” by the positive response.
She said: “The Scottish Government may be getting rid of the hated ‘bedroom tax’ but, long before that came into being, there was a demand for one bedroom flats in the city centre.
“Perth wants to have a thriving city centre.”
Ms Maclachlan said it would encourage younger people to settle down in the city, as well as help locals save money while remaining in their chosen community.
She added: “The combination of new Perth and Kinross Council one bedroom homes becoming available and having social housing providers building a mixture of accommodation sizes should help people to start being able to move to suitable accommodation within Perth communities, rather than having to keep heating bigger homes so as to stay near family and friends.”
Councillor Heather Stewart requested clarification on the future of the row of shops on Dunkeld Road.
She was advised by housing and health convener Dave Doogan that this was still under discussion by the Muirton Park Regeneration Board.
He said the shops “perform a key function in that community” and went on: “They might not look great, but that doesn’t mean we will give them away for nothing and knock them down. They are a stumbling block but we need to work together to come up with a resolution.”
Approved in 2004 by Perth and Kinross Council, the scheme aims to transform the reputation of the estate for residents as the formerly deprived area had been blighted by anti-social behaviour.
As part of efforts to wipe out the “unfair stigma” attached to the estate, many streets have been renamed.
Familiar street names such as Ainslie Gardens have made way for new ones, such as Lark Avenue and Kestrel Way.
The area itself is now known as Muirton Park, in recognition of St Johnstone Football Club’s old ground which used to be sited there.