Planning granted for industrial units in hope it will bring jobs boost

Planning permission has been unanimously granted for 11 industrial units at Inveralmond in the hope it will bring jobs to Perth.

Concern was raised by local residents over the impact of noise, litter and light pollution.

Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and development management committee met virtually on January 19 to scrutinise the plans.

An application was submitted by Algo (Blairgowrie) Ltd to erect 11 “light industrial units” on land at the south-western end of Auld Bond Road, Perth.

The site is close to the A9 and a footbridge connects the site to Inveralmond Industrial Estate on the opposite side of the A9.

The Inveralmond Business Centre and Thermo Fisher Scientific facility sit north-east of the site.

It is close to a residential development at Cragganmore Place.

Objector George Corstorphine gave a deputation to the committee on behalf of local residents there.

He raised issues with road safety and said traffic calming measures “don’t seem fit for purpose”.

Mr Corstorphine told councillors residents – particularly now many were working from home because of the pandemic – were already impacted by noise, litter and light pollution.

Cllr Tom Gray pointed to this site being designated for employment use on the local development plan.

Strathtay councillor Ian James moved to approve the application.

It was seconded by cllr Gray, who expressed a wish for developers to cooperate with the community to mitigate noise.

Convener Roz McCall said: “We need more jobs and we need to do everything we can to provide them.”

By local democracy reporter Kathryn Anderson