A Carse of Gowrie farmer has turned to the Scottish Government in his continuing fight to transform his failing farm into a rural housing development.

  
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James Farquharson first applied in August 2009 to demolish some of his steading buildings at The Horn Farm, near Errol.

As well as building new homes, he wanted to transform B-listed portions of the farm, creating 24 houses in total, but the proposal was rejected in December by planners who said it was contrary to various local and national policies.

The council said there was no justification for creating new housing in open countryside, it would have an adverse effect on the rural environment and listed buildings and noise mitigation measures from the nearby A90 trunk road had not been demonstrated.

Mr Farquharson has appealed to the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals to have the ruling overturned.

He claims it is not open ground because there are 10 houses and a residential caravan park nearby, including some between the site and A90.

“To describe the site as open countryside is not compatible with reality,” he writes in his appeal.

He continues, “The proposals would enhance the local rural environment with the restoration of historical structures before they fall into terminal decay.

“Listed buildings… are proposed to be retained, not to be demolished, if time permits (Perth and Kinross Council have been warned of their condition).

“I submit that the ‘reasons’ given (for refusal) by Perth and Kinross Council are inaccurate, unreasonable and do not give a true and accurate account of the facts.”

Mr Farquharson explained the reason he is seeking to turn to property development after 30 years as a farmer.

He said, “Farming activity at The Horn Farm has been in serious decline for a number of years and is no longer considered a viable enterprise.

“Due to a serious decline in mixed farming the business is no longer economically capable of employing additional farm workers and, as such, the buildings no longer have an agricultural use and their maintenance has long since become an excessive burden for the applicant to bear.

“Persistent disuse has resulted in the current disrepair of the farm steading, with many of the structures being of such a poor condition they are now considered unstable and inaccessible.”

If approved, Mr Farquharson’s plans would see redundant unlisted buildings removed and a steading, coach house and outbuilding converted into nine units and the farmhouse and main steading recreated as six further houses. Nine entirely new-build houses would help fund this.

He said, “The works required to allow the redevelopment of this historically-important steading are vast.

“To offset the restrictive redevelopment costs, it is proposed to introduce an enabling element to the development through the creation of nine market value dwelling houses within the site of the demolished agricultural buildings.”

The issue will go to a hearing with a government reporter yet to be appointed.