Long-established Blairgowrie business granted planning permission after previous application was refused

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A Blairgowrie firm with global reach has been granted permission to create an additional 581m² of additional warehouse space for storage.

A. Proctor Group sought permission from Perth and Kinross Council to construct a "vital" extension to its Dunkeld Road facility to ensure the company could both remain competitive and maintain its presence in the Perthshire town.

The revised plans were put before Perth and Kinross Council's Planning and Placemaking Committee for consideration after previous plans were refused in November 2022.

The original plans which were refused were for an extension measuring 45m x 18m. The final revised proposal - put before councillors on Wednesday - was for a 44.7m x 13m extension.

There were seven objections to the latest application with residents raising concern about the building's proximity to neighbouring residential properties.

Owner and managing director Keira Proctor presented the firm's revised plans to the council committee on Wednesday, November 13.

The long established family business has evolved over many years. The Proctor family originally manufactured textiles and supplied flax to Scotland’s mills before eventually moving into the supply and fabrication of insulation products in the 1960s.

Managing director Keira Proctor said: "Our incentive is towards the long-term of local employment and the area.

"This new building is really to support the requirement to service and grow our existing customer base both in the UK and internationally and offer the business sustainability and growth for the future in Perthshire."

She added: "The initial application was refused and one of the main factors was the detrimental impact on the neighbouring properties, which I understand. So we commissioned an independent surveyor to carry out the daylight and sunlight assessment to BRE [Building Research Establishment] standards. We've actually gone over and above what they ask for with the new submission."

The report by council planners recommended the application be approved, satisfied the revised proposal was now smaller than the host building and two metres further away from neighbouring residential properties.

The report stated: "The proposal is of an acceptable scale and relates appropriately to the adjacent building and will not have a significantly adverse impact on visual amenity due to its scale, form and siting."

However Blairgowrie and Glens councillor Bob Brawn was unconvinced.

Moving for refusal, the Conservative councillor said: "While I appreciate the size of the new extension is smaller, this is a residential area, surrounded by residential housing. I have concern about the effect on some of the properties particularly those in Lochinblair Gardens. The report mentions 'low impact' but that is still an impact on those houses."

This was seconded by fellow Conservative councillor Keith Allan.

However the other councillors on the committee supported a motion tabled by Bailie Claire McLaren (Lib Dem) and seconded by Cllr Ken Harvey (SNP) to approve the application.

Bailie McLaren said: "I am content that the applicant has addressed the concerns of the previous application that was refused and is very much concerned about the local community. I would commend the approach of the business to maintain their presence within Perthshire and Blairgowrie."

Councillors voted by eight votes to two to approve the plans.

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