'Sustainable' village set for approval

COUNCILLORS are today expected to give the go-ahead to controversial plans to build a "sustainable" village in the Carse of Gowrie – three years after the proposals were first tabled.

The Morris Leslie Group originally submitted an application to build a village of more than 400 houses at Errol airfield, Perthshire, in 2007.

But the proposals were referred to the Scottish Government, following objections to the development by both Scottish Natural Heritage and Transport Scotland.

The government then advised in March 2008 that it did not intend to become involved and referred the application back to Perth and Kinross Council.

Morris Leslie has since cut the number of homes in the proposed development from 460 to 240, and planning officials are now calling for the application to be approved at a special full council meeting.

In a report, Nick Brian, the development quality manager, said: "The principal issue which has delayed progress is the ongoing problem of providing adequate education facilities to cater for the proposed development."

Education officials had initially advised that a new school would be necessary to cope with the original proposal for a village of 460 houses, but it had now been decided only two additional classrooms will be required, at a total cost of 1.8 million.

Mr Brian is recommending that the application be approved, subject to a series of conditions. One is that the development includes 60 affordable houses to be developed by a registered social landlord.