Appendix D - New Housing Opportunity
Perth and Kinross Council · 4 September 2024
Back to Perth and Kinross Council — 4 September 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Appendix D New Housing Opportunity 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This appendix provides more detail to support recommendations 4a and 4b. It outlines the opportunity to provide much needed housing at the three and half hectare Perth Leisure Pool (PLP) and Dewars site, should the PH2O project be pursued at Thimblerow. The site could provide housing, with a range of tenure options, creating a mixed, vibrant and sustainable community. 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 In May 2024 Council amended the Disposal of Land and Building Policy (Report 24/150 refers) to prioritise affordable housing when the Council is reviewing its assets and disposing of land and buildings. 2.2 On 15 May 2024, the Scottish Parliament declared a ‘National Housing Emergency’. This followed local declarations by ten local authorities – Argyll and Bute, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife, West Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders, West Lothian Council, Angus Council and Dundee City Council. While Perth and Kinross Council has not made a local declaration demand for affordable and social housing within Perth city centre is significant and the availability and turnover of accommodation is low. As a result, developing any affordable housing to assist local families and keyworkers is seen as a priority. 2.3 There are currently 785 applications, almost a quarter of all applications on the Common Housing Register, requesting accommodation in Perth City Centre. 3. PROPOSAL 3.1 Subject to the agreement of the proposal to relocate the PH2O development to Thimblerow, the current PLP/ Dewars site and buildings would become surplus to requirements as per the approved Council policy. 3.2 The land is currently in the ownership of Live Active Leisure (LAL). The title has been reviewed by Legal Services and there are no restrictions on the title for use as housing by the Council. A formal process of transfer of title would have to be sought from the LAL Board to proceed with this proposal. 3.3 Based on demand and layout, 50 to 70 units of mixed size and tenure per hectare, can be accommodated on the site. This would result in a total of 250 units for the overall site.
Page 2
3.4 The above site proposals offer one form of redevelopment of the parkland setting. More urban-based solutions may lead to greater densities and fewer units. If Council supports the development of PH2O at Thimblerow, the current PLP/ Dewars site would be the subject of the development of a planning brief as a first step to developing detailed proposals for the site along with consultation and engagement with community and ward members. 3.5 This development and the scale of affordable housing (for delivery at the earliest in 2030) would also be subject to the availability of funds within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Council Tax Reserve Income and Affordable Housing Grant from the Scottish Government. 4. CONCLUSION 4.1 The site offers a great opportunity within Perth city for the significant development of housing with a range of mixed tenures to meet a variety of housing needs. This development could also form part of the actions to help ease the considerable pressure on the housing system locally, whilst supporting many of the key corporate priorities of Perth and Kinross Council.