SCOTLAND'S biggest outdoor music festival has been given the go-ahead to move to a new home after councillors approved plans to hold it at a scenic beauty spot.
T in the Park will take place at Strathallan Castle this summer after moving from its previous home in Balado, Perth and Kinross.
The decision comes after months of debate, consultation and negotiations, with some local residents and environmental groups opposing the plans.
Among those raising concerns was the luxury hotel Gleneagles, situated nearby the new site, and conservationists the RSPB.
It was initially thought the event could operate in the grounds of the 19th-century Strathallan Castle with a permitted development and a public entertainment licence, but the discovery of ospreys at Strathallan meant a formal planning application and an environmental statement was required with Perth and Kinross Council.
Two public consultations on the application have been held, with some environmental groups and local residents critical of the plans.
Concerns were also raised about traffic arrangements for the event, anti-social behaviour and impact on the local wildlife.
Last month, Perth and Kinross Council's development management committee recommended approving the move with a series of conditions.
It was recommended the festival be held at Strathallan Castle for three years to "assess its impact".
Councillors have now approved the application for the festival to be held between July 10 and 12.
DF Concerts, which runs T in the Park, announced last year that it had to move from its regular site in Balado as safety concerns grew over its proximity to a large oil pipeline.
The group's chief executive Geoff Ellis welcomed the news and said organisers want to work with "all residents to ensure that we are excellent neighbours and minimise any disruption to local life".
He said: "We're happy that the committee has approved our application and our team can get on with the plans for a fantastic first year of T in the Park at Strathallan Castle.
"We'd like to thank the business and tourism sector who recognise the value of the event as one of Scotland's national treasures and offered tremendous support throughout the process.
"Most importantly, massive thanks go to the local communities surrounding Strathallan who spent a huge amount of their own precious time to show the country that they warmly welcome T in the Park.
He added: "We also hope they will appreciate that it is our intention to continue to work with the relevant authorities and organisations to ensure the long-term protection and safe-guarding of the local environment surrounding Strathallan."
T in the Park was first held at Strathclyde Park in Glasgow in 1994 before moving to Balado, near Kinross, three years later.
Despite the debate over the application, the line-up for the festival has been announced, with Kasabian, The Libertines, Twin Atlantic and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds named as some of the headline acts.
RSPB Scotland, which had raised concerns over osprey nests in the castle grounds, said the conditions of the approval must be met.
A spokeswoman said: "The very strict conditions required by RSPB Scotland have been included for the event, which is welcome, but the focus must now be on making sure that these will be fully adhered to, to minimise the risk of any disturbance to birds and other wildlife at the site.
"DF Concerts must implement their plans for reducing disturbance immediately and ensure there will be strict monitoring of Strathallan on the weekend of T in the Park, but also during preparations for the event and the clean-up afterwards."
Carol Evans, director of the Woodland Trust Scotland, said: "We're disappointed by the decision to approve T in the Park, which demonstrates a disregard for the impacts on the woodland surrounding Strathallan Estate.
"This long-established woodland is home to a number of species including bats, red squirrels and ospreys.
"While we are not against the festival, these woods are too valuable for wildlife to hold an event of this size in such close proximity due to impacts including artificial light, noise and litter."
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