A planned 240-home “sustainable village” at Errol Airfield has been given more time to come to fruition.
Members of Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee yesterday agreed to extend the time limit for work starting to three years, instead of the proposed two, after an architect told councillors the latter would have given them “insufficient time” to agree necessary matters with around 10 different bodies.
Outline planning consent for the concept was granted to Morris Leslie three years ago and is due to expire this month.
The application site covers more than 43 hectares of Errol Airfield on land adjacent to its runways.
Perth and Kinross Council granted a planning in principle consent in 2010 for a mixed use development with houses, industrial starter units, workshops, warehouses and associated offices.
Bob Hynd, of architects Leadingham, Jameson, Rogers and Hynd, acting on behalf of Morris Leslie, told committee members of his firm’s “worry” over the recommendation to grant just a two-year extension, to be backdated to October last year.
“This effectively allows us only 20 months, instead of 36, to agree the outstanding reserved matters,” he said.
“As this is a major application, our experience is that this is insufficient time to agree the outstanding matters with the various departments such as education, parks, planning, roads, and bodies such as Network Rail, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
“In total, there are probably in excess of 10 different parties to deal with and a considerable number of individuals. We think it would be very difficult to achieve full agreement with all the parties involved within this timescale.”
Mr Hynd told the committee the number of reserved matters require “considerable more consideration and discussion”.
He added: “I think the 20 months is insufficient time.
“As you are aware, the construction industry has collapsed and there has been a considerable downturn in the amount of new housebuild completions over the last few years.
“Scottish Government figures state that within the Perth and Kinross Council area there were 1,086 houses built in 2007.
“However, there were only 353 in 2012 the last year figures were available.
“This resulted in lengthier discussions with the developers who have expressed an interest and negotiations regarding longer timescales.
“We would, therefore, ask that the existing recommendation be carried forward, but it would only be fair and reasonable to have an amendment to condition this for three years.”
Councillor Ian Campbell told Mr Hynd he felt the planners could have had “ongoing” discussions after it was granted principle consent and Nick Brian, Perth and Kinross Council’s development quality manager, agreed.
“I would have thought some discussions could have taken place during this time,” he commented.
Councillor Alan Livingstone said he believed there was unanimity on the committee that the construction industry had “collapsed”.
He asked Mr Hynd if he felt it could come out of “hibernation”.
Mr Hynd said: “It is possible. Four years ago we had 23 staff but we have only 10 now.
“However, we recently took on two architects so there seems to be a slight improvement.”
Councillor Callum Gillies proposed an amendment that the time limit be extended to three years.
The committee voted 7-5 in favour of the motion.