Bid for 48 new homes at Castlemains site given the green light

Muir Homes has been unanimously granted planning approval for 48 homes - subject to conditions - as part of the expansion of Auchterarder at Castlemains.

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

The housebuilder submitted two separate applications for neighbouring sites - both unanimously approved by Perth and Kinross Council's Planning and Placemaking Committee on Wednesday, May 14.

The first application was for 38 two to five-bedroomed houses and four two-bedroomed flats on land 40 metres north of 51 Castle Drive; the second was for six four-bedroomed detached homes on land 90 metres north-west of Castlemains Farm Steading.

There were 25 letters of representation to the first application and 19 to the second.

Concerns raised included road safety, noise, loss of view, privacy and previous obligations for the new A9 junction and playing fields have not been provided.

Presenting the first application, PKC’s Major Applications and Enforcement team leader Sean Panton said a legal agreement for developers to provide a new A9 junction at Shinafoot and sports facilities meant all the houses could not be immediately built on site.

Mr Panton said: “There is an existing Section 75 legal agreement on this site which places a cap on the number of homes which can be built here until the Shinafoot junction and required sports facilities have been provided.

“Muir are aware of this requirement and will not be able to fully implement this application until such time that the legal requirements have been met This does not however prohibitus from determining the application today.”

Conservative councillor Bob Brawn asked how many houses could be built “before the Shinafoot junction has to be brought into play”.