Council’s refusal of West Kinfauns homes overturned

The Scottish Government has overruled Perth & Kinross Council to give permission to Ogilvie Homes to build a new housing development in West Kinfauns.Ogilvie Homes initiated an appeal after failing to secure permission for 15 homes at Walnut Grove.Perth and Kinross councillors believed that two-storey detached homes were not in keeping with the surrounding bungalows in the rural area. They also cited safety concerns about the access to five of the homes being from the main road.The site neighbours the Morris Leslie office development and previously had permission for 37 houses, The Courier reports.The new plans for fewer homes on the site had been recommended for approval by council officers. However, the committee voted to reject the application by 10 votes to three.In its reason for refusal, the council said the number of access points from the main road could be avoided. It argued that the homes would have an “adverse impact on amenity as the built development could have been set further back”.However, a Scottish Government reporter has approved the application after visiting earlier this year.The reporter also dismissed the view the homes should be single-storey to match others in the neighbourhood.The four-bedroom villas are advertised as coming soon on a new sign at the site.