Highland Perthshire News - 24 Dwellings Approved for Duntaylor Avenue, Aberfeldy

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24 Dwellings Approved for Duntaylor Avenue, Aberfeldy

In September 2006 an application was lodged for the erection of 24 houses with garages, on land at Duntaylor Avenue in Aberfeldy, by Athel Price of Bolfracks Estate.

Concern was expressed at that time by residents about the number of proposed houses as it was thought that sewerage was at capacity.

Scottish Water has now stated that there is capacity in the system for a further 25 houses and P&K Council planners having written to them for clarification, hold a letter on file outlining the extra capacity. Locally it was felt that, as there was a number of other applications pending for houses at various sites around the town, deferred solely on the basis of sewerage capacity, then these should be approved before a new development was given the go-ahead.

Site plan shows existing Duntaylor development in the lower segment and the proposed additions above

Road Safety
C’llr Ken Lyall also expressed concern on road safety issues. He has asked that, if this application is approved, a condition regarding traffic calming measures be included. This should not just include Duntaylor Avenue but should take in the junction at Kenmore Street/Alma Avenue, as this road is widely used for school buses’ offload, and as a ‘Drop & Kiss’point by parents in a quiet residential area.

In November the Council’s Development Control Committee resolved to defer a decision on the original application to build on the 1.8hectare rectangular field (shown above), to give members more time to consider the proposals.

In his appraisal of the application, the local authority’s Development Standards’ head, Ian Sleith said the site has been zoned for 40 houses with 27 already completed.

Affordable Homes Included

The amended plans submitted included six affordable homes and, despite welcoming this inclusion, Mr Sleith pointed out that because 11 of the properties would have two storeys, the proposals conflict with the local plan. He said he had ‘serious reservations’ about potential construction work at the site, insisting Mr Price’s scheme would likely require ‘significant excavation and under-building’.

“I consider the numbers to be excessive and the proposed layout does not take account of the severely undulating nature of the site,” said Mr Sleith’s paper. “It also ignores the fact that the houses should all be single-storey, and fails to provide an appropriate landscaped setting for the development. The site is extremely visible, particularly from long-distance views across the valley, and will significantly alter the character of this edge of Aberfeldy.”

Mr Sleith added that the amended plan included “only very limited landscaping proposals” despite the local plan having stipulated a requirement for extensive boundary planting. Consequently, he has recommended councillors refuse Mr Price’s planning on the grounds of failure to comply with appropriate site design criteria.

Despite these objections and recommendations, the planning application was approved by the Development Control Committee at its meeting on Wednesday 17 January. It was voted through by the five councillors present at the committee who were eligible to vote on the matter.