Approval for Seven New Homes in Carnbo
Seven new homes have been given the green light in Carnbo, a charming hamlet nestled between Milnathort and Yetts O’ Muckhart in Kinross-shire. The Perth & Kinross Council’s planning and placemaking committee have granted approval for this small housing development, with a vote of six to four in favour.
The application was presented by Wright Planning and Development Ltd on behalf of Fiona Watt and the Trustees of the George Watt Family Trust. The proposed L-shaped development will feature a house on the former petrol station site, another behind it facing a new access road off the A91, and the remaining five secluded around the corner, overlooking the scenic fields.
During the committee meeting, convener Ian Massie raised concerns about the absence of affordable housing in the project. The Council’s guidelines recommend that developments with over five units should allocate 25% for affordable housing. However, in this case, a commuted sum was agreed upon as a suitable alternative, amounting to approximately £42,000 based on local housing market rates.
John Wright, the developer’s agent, highlighted various challenges that need to be overcome, such as dealing with contamination on the former petrol station site and implementing drainage solutions, which impact the overall viability of the project.
It was later explained to councillors that providing affordable housing units on this specific site would be considerably challenging due to the complexities involved in decontamination work and site conditions. A council officer emphasised that attracting interest from housing services or associations for social or mid-market rental housing would be highly unlikely.