A long-established golfing institution on the fringes of Perth is confronting an uncertain future, with club officials starkly predicting its demise within the next fifteen months. This dire warning follows a decisive rejection by the Perth and Kinross Council of a controversial proposal to construct up to 175 residential properties across half of its sprawling course.
The planning committee of the local authority concluded its deliberations this Wednesday, firmly asserting that the safeguarding of the region’s designated green belt lands held precedence over the proposed development. This stance directly countered the persuasive arguments put forth by the club, which had painted a grim picture of its imminent collapse without the financial injection from the housing scheme.
Captain Dave Mitchell, a leading figure at the 114-year-old golf club, articulated the severe ramifications of the council’s decision during the meeting. He cautioned that without the development, the club’s viability would extend for merely ’15 months at the absolute maximum’, leading inevitably to its cessation. Such an outcome, he stressed, would not offer any benefit to the city of Perth but rather represent a significant void, eliminating employment, recreational golfing opportunities, and crucial access for numerous community groups and individuals currently supported by the club.
Furthermore, Captain Mitchell raised concerns about the potential for the now-vulnerable clubhouse to fall into disrepair, becoming a magnet for undesirable activities. He also highlighted environmental anxieties, suggesting that the absence of active grounds management and maintenance of the surrounding tree canopy could exacerbate flooding risks in the already susceptible Craigie vicinity, an area familiar to residents for its historical challenges with water management.
The proposed residential project was a collaborative effort with Kilmac, a construction firm based in Dundee, and included ambitious plans for a significant overhaul of the clubhouse, transforming it into a modern community hub. Despite a considerable outpouring of local support, with 215 individuals formally backing the application compared to 107 objections, the prevailing planning policies ultimately swayed the decision-makers.
Key among the concerns articulated by local government planning officials and community objectors was the pervasive threat of flooding. Both the principal access road, historically known as Low Road, and the designated emergency egress route via Woodside Crescent, were identified as being particularly vulnerable to inundation. Objectors presented compelling data, noting a recent surge in significant flood events within the area – four major incidents occurring between 2020 and 2025 – a stark contrast to the four recorded over the preceding four decades leading up to 2020.
Adding another layer of complexity to the infrastructure concerns, it was highlighted that the developer’s traffic impact assessment had failed to account for the anticipated increase in vehicles from a new Aldi supermarket planned for the adjacent Necessity Brae. This separate retail development had recently secured council approval in July, following a protracted legal dispute that had previously seen it blocked by a competing supermarket chain. The cumulative effect of these unaddressed traffic volumes, coupled with the existing flood susceptibility of access routes, presented a formidable obstacle to the housing proposal.
During the planning committee’s spirited debate, some councillors voiced their belief that approving the project could contribute positively to addressing the pressing local and national housing shortage. However, the committee ultimately voted to uphold the principles of the Local Development Plan, with a clear majority of 26 votes against the application, nine in favour, and two abstentions. The official position underscored that the proposed 175 residences on green belt land were deemed ‘excessive’ and would detrimentally ‘impact on the landscape setting’ of this part of Perth, stating that the golf club’s financial distress, while acknowledged, did not provide sufficient justification to override established planning considerations.
The planning committee of the local authority concluded its deliberations this Wednesday, firmly asserting that the safeguarding of the region’s designated green belt lands held precedence over the proposed development. This stance directly countered the persuasive arguments put forth by the club, which had painted a grim picture of its imminent collapse without the financial injection from the housing scheme.
Captain Dave Mitchell, a leading figure at the 114-year-old golf club, articulated the severe ramifications of the council’s decision during the meeting. He cautioned that without the development, the club’s viability would extend for merely ’15 months at the absolute maximum’, leading inevitably to its cessation. Such an outcome, he stressed, would not offer any benefit to the city of Perth but rather represent a significant void, eliminating employment, recreational golfing opportunities, and crucial access for numerous community groups and individuals currently supported by the club.
Furthermore, Captain Mitchell raised concerns about the potential for the now-vulnerable clubhouse to fall into disrepair, becoming a magnet for undesirable activities. He also highlighted environmental anxieties, suggesting that the absence of active grounds management and maintenance of the surrounding tree canopy could exacerbate flooding risks in the already susceptible Craigie vicinity, an area familiar to residents for its historical challenges with water management.
The proposed residential project was a collaborative effort with Kilmac, a construction firm based in Dundee, and included ambitious plans for a significant overhaul of the clubhouse, transforming it into a modern community hub. Despite a considerable outpouring of local support, with 215 individuals formally backing the application compared to 107 objections, the prevailing planning policies ultimately swayed the decision-makers.
Key among the concerns articulated by local government planning officials and community objectors was the pervasive threat of flooding. Both the principal access road, historically known as Low Road, and the designated emergency egress route via Woodside Crescent, were identified as being particularly vulnerable to inundation. Objectors presented compelling data, noting a recent surge in significant flood events within the area – four major incidents occurring between 2020 and 2025 – a stark contrast to the four recorded over the preceding four decades leading up to 2020.
Adding another layer of complexity to the infrastructure concerns, it was highlighted that the developer’s traffic impact assessment had failed to account for the anticipated increase in vehicles from a new Aldi supermarket planned for the adjacent Necessity Brae. This separate retail development had recently secured council approval in July, following a protracted legal dispute that had previously seen it blocked by a competing supermarket chain. The cumulative effect of these unaddressed traffic volumes, coupled with the existing flood susceptibility of access routes, presented a formidable obstacle to the housing proposal.
During the planning committee’s spirited debate, some councillors voiced their belief that approving the project could contribute positively to addressing the pressing local and national housing shortage. However, the committee ultimately voted to uphold the principles of the Local Development Plan, with a clear majority of 26 votes against the application, nine in favour, and two abstentions. The official position underscored that the proposed 175 residences on green belt land were deemed ‘excessive’ and would detrimentally ‘impact on the landscape setting’ of this part of Perth, stating that the golf club’s financial distress, while acknowledged, did not provide sufficient justification to override established planning considerations.