Local Development Plan - first draft to be considered by councillors today, Tue 10 Jan 2012
Original article title in Perthshire Advertiser - 'Masterplan for Pershire put to councillors'
N.B. The Convention has written to Perth and Kinross Council to remind it that planning and community consultation are the key statutory roles of community councils, and therefore community councils should have a central role in preparing and delivering the community consultation on the new LDP.
By Andrew Welsh
A RAFT of contentious issues contained in Perthshire's proposed Local Development Plan are to be scrutinised by councillors today.
Years in the making, the weighty Perth and Kinross Council document identifies a land-use framework for housing development, employment land, transport infrastructure and the potential protection of areas of environmental importance.
Key
Bringing together previously separate local area' plans and policies, its key elements include plans for a new cross-Tay link road corridor, linking the A9 north of Inveralmond to the A93 and A94 north of Scone.
Other aspects are land identified for 7250 new houses across the region before 2024 and a Perth green belt boundary.
PKC insists that the masterplan will merely provide an overall blueprint for future development, and that all its proposals would need separate individual planning approvals in order to go ahead.
The document was drawn up following a major public consultation by PKC on its Main Issues Report a year ago.
Councillors will today be asked to approve the plan and agree to its publication on January 30, after which a 10-week period would begin allowing the public to make representations.
A series of 13 drop-in events are due be held next month, plus two surgery sessions where people can make appointments to discuss specific issues with planning officers.
Static exhibitions around the area are also to be staged for people to view the proposals.
Council leader lan Miller declared: "Forecasts show that the population of Perth and Kinross will grow significantly over the next few decades, and the proposed LDP addresses the infrastructure challenges that will bring.
"We will need many more houses, and more land for business and industry so that out local economy can
provide employment to local people and remain competitive.
"The document addresses transport infrastructure issues, especially around Perth where congestion can be a problem.
"Importantly, it also identifies areas of environmental importance where development should be prevented in future, protecting our natural heritage.
"The proposed LDP is one of the biggest pieces of work ever undertaken by this council."
N.B. The Convention has written to Perth and Kinross Council to remind it that planning and community consultation are the key statutory roles of community councils, and therefore community councils should have a central role in preparing and delivering the community consultation on the new LDP.
By Andrew Welsh
A RAFT of contentious issues contained in Perthshire's proposed Local Development Plan are to be scrutinised by councillors today.
Years in the making, the weighty Perth and Kinross Council document identifies a land-use framework for housing development, employment land, transport infrastructure and the potential protection of areas of environmental importance.
Key
Bringing together previously separate local area' plans and policies, its key elements include plans for a new cross-Tay link road corridor, linking the A9 north of Inveralmond to the A93 and A94 north of Scone.
Other aspects are land identified for 7250 new houses across the region before 2024 and a Perth green belt boundary.
PKC insists that the masterplan will merely provide an overall blueprint for future development, and that all its proposals would need separate individual planning approvals in order to go ahead.
The document was drawn up following a major public consultation by PKC on its Main Issues Report a year ago.
Councillors will today be asked to approve the plan and agree to its publication on January 30, after which a 10-week period would begin allowing the public to make representations.
A series of 13 drop-in events are due be held next month, plus two surgery sessions where people can make appointments to discuss specific issues with planning officers.
Static exhibitions around the area are also to be staged for people to view the proposals.
Council leader lan Miller declared: "Forecasts show that the population of Perth and Kinross will grow significantly over the next few decades, and the proposed LDP addresses the infrastructure challenges that will bring.
"We will need many more houses, and more land for business and industry so that out local economy can
provide employment to local people and remain competitive.
"The document addresses transport infrastructure issues, especially around Perth where congestion can be a problem.
"Importantly, it also identifies areas of environmental importance where development should be prevented in future, protecting our natural heritage.
"The proposed LDP is one of the biggest pieces of work ever undertaken by this council."