Hotel plan backed amid concerns

Developers said Perth had a requirement for a luxury hotel

Initial plans for Perth's first five-star hotel have been approved by councillors, against the recommendation of local planning chiefs.

Perth and Kinross Council officials had recommended that the 300-bedroom luxury development at Kinfauns be refused.

But members of the authority's development control committee have backed the proposals in principle.

The plans will now have to go before ministers following an objection from Scottish Natural Heritage.

Perth and Kinross officials said councillors should refuse outline permission for the plans, brought forward by developer JWK properties.

They cited concerns that the hotel would lie within Perth's new greenbelt land, where there is a presumption against new build developments unless "essentially related to agriculture".

'Safety concerns'

However councillors said they were keen to find a way round the objections, because of the large economic and employment boost that the hotel would bring to the area.

The Health and Safety Executive said it would object to any hotel on the site with more than 100 beds on safety grounds because of nearby "major pipelines", although BP and Shell said it currently had "no observations to offer".

SNH, an environmental agency, said it would object unless the developer could properly protect the River Tay, which has been designated a special conservation area.

The Architectural Heritage Society said it was opposing the hotel because of its close proximity to the A-listed Kinfauns Castle.

Perth and Kinross councillors are expected to consider the application again at a later date.