BUSINESSWOMAN Ann Gloag has won a battle to build a new cottage on land near her castle despite opposition from neighbours.
The Stagecoach tycoon has been granted permission for a two- bedroom home near Kinfauns Castle, east of Perth.
Ms Gloag, 73, one of Scotland’s richest women, has been making plans to expand her property empire in the area in recent years.
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In 2012, she was given the go-ahead for a six-bedroomed mansion and a three-bedroomed house on the grounds of her estate.
However, her latest application attracted objections from people living nearby who claimed it would cause increased traffic and damage to an access road.
Perth and Kinross Council has now ruled the plot of land that sits across the River Tay from Ms Gloag’s castle can be built on.
In a written report, planning officers said: “The proposed house is a small-scale modest, two- bedroom cottage like dwelling with traditional proportions and finishing materials including a slate roof and stone and timber cladding to the walls.
“The site is relatively small and, as such, the modest scale of the house is considered to be appropriate.
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“The site also slopes away from the private access that will help to minimise the visual impact of the house from the south.
“The house will be seen from the adjacent M90 network, but will be seen in context with the remainder of the building group.
“The scale and proportions of the house will ensure it sits comfortably within the grouping and on that basis it is considered to meet requirements.”
Ms Gloag, has to pay a £6,460 “developer contribution” to help tackle capacity issues at the local primary school as a condition of being granted permission to build the cottage.
People living nearby had raised concerns about road safety and waste collection at the site.
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In a letter to the council, one of the objectors, Peter Williamson, said: “Granting planning permission would result in an increase in traffic on the narrow access lane and would also meant the rubbish and recycling bins at the top of the lane would need to serve another household and at the moment they are usually full to capacity when due for emptying.
“The communal drive at the top of the lane is in a state of disrepair and would now be subject to more traffic.”
Another nearby resident, Margaret Mackenzie, said: “The current state of disrepair of the farm road as a result of years of neglect and also the construction traffic for the other newbuild is of concern to us.
“This road is inadequate for the current volume of traffic. It is becoming a more regular occurrence to meet another vehicle and have to reverse a considerable distance. Construction traffic would add to this.
“This same construction traffic would find it very difficult to leave the road and access the very small site that sits well below the road level and would in all likelihood result in considerable disruption and delays to us at one of the houses east of the site.”
The two homes Ms Gloag applied to build in 2012 also attracted criticism.
Forestry Commission Scotland warned the buildings would ruin an area of ancient woodland and neighbours objected to the proposal, claiming it would spoil the privacy and seclusion they currently enjoy and cause a drop in property values in the area
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