A major new housing plan could be the first step towards addressing the population explosion that is predicted for Perth and Kinross.
Councillors are next week expected to back a scheme for the creation of up to 200 new homes and a business park on the last significant greenfield site within the existing boundaries of Perth.
The Courier reported this week that as many as 10,000 new homes require to be built across the region over the next decade.
Perth and Kinross has in recent years been Scotland’s fastest growing local authority area and population growth of 21% has been predicted over the next 20 years.
The council needs to ensure that houses are being built now in order to meet that demand and that means that the time could be right for long-mooted proposals for the expansion of Perth’s western edge.
Tens of millions of pounds will be invested in the 26-hectare site that sits between Broxden and Cherrybank Gardens, changing the face of one of the main gateways into Scotland’s newest city.
Sitting between the M90 motorway and Perth’s Glasgow Road, the steeply-banked site would grow opposite existing residential properties and envelop the Broxden Services and park and ride.
The project is being taken forward by the John Dewar Lamberkin Trust and Needhill LLP who believe the development will be of major benefit to Perth, both in terms of providing much-needed housing and also creating jobs.
It is expected that the site could accommodate up to 200 residential units.
The exact layout and house types have yet to be decided, but it is expected that 50 homes a year would be built over a four-year period, starting with development in the north-east corner of the site.
The Business Park would be located to the western extremities of the site and is also expected to be brought forward in a phased manner.
It would border existing businesses such as McDonalds, Travelodge and Harvester, which succeeded where plans for the greater site have failed.
The site of the proposed housing and Business Park was once to have played a role in the creation of the failed Calyx garden project.
It was to have seen offices, business units, a hotel, restaurant and roads created alongside a heather collection of national importance.
Following public meetings and a consultation process, the latest plan for the land is now set to go before elected members at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s Development Management Committee on Wednesday.
Planners are recommending that they approve the outline plans and embrace the concept of creating both homes and business units at the site.
The council’s development quality manager Nick Brian said: “The development of potentially 200 residential units will help contribute to the required housing numbers to meet the projected population growth within the Perth core area and will make a significant contribution towards meeting the shortfall in short to medium term effective housing land.”
Just two letters of objection have been received from owners of neighbouring residential properties, citing noise pollution, over-intensive development and road safety.