Future Council housing developments

Local housing demand

The Balhousie Primary School housing development is being designed to meet local demand.

The Perth and Kinross Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2025/26 to 2029/30 (PDF, 696 KB) proposes to deliver approximately 1,152 affordable homes over the next five years (an average of 230 homes per year). Local housing demand confirms that there are over 873 applicants currently on the waiting list for social housing, requiring house sizes of:

• 1 bed units - 533 applicants
• 2 bed units - 299 applicants
• 3 bed units - 41 applicants

Timeline

• 2019 - Lifelong Learning Committee decides to build new school at site of North Muirton Primary School creating a new merged school combining North Muirton Primary School and Balhousie Primary School (Riverside Primary School)
• 5 June 2019 - decision taken to declare Balhousie Primary School surplus, once school is relocated to a new building
• 2020-2023 - Riverside Primary School designed, tendered and constructed at site of previous North Muirton Primary School
• March-April 2023 - online survey to consider future use of Balhousie Primary School carried out, 206 responses received.
• 12 June 2023 - Balhousie Primary School closes and building becomes surplus
• 28 June 2023 - following a detailed options appraisal the Council's New Build Board opted for a Council-led social rented housing development
• November 2023 - Balhousie School housing development formally added to the Perth and Kinross 5-year Strategic Housing Investment Plan
• January 2024 - procurement process started to appoint a design team to take forward the proposals
• April 2024 - Hubco East Central Scotland appointed to take forward the design and later construction of the project
• August 2024 - Architects and other design consultants appointed to carry out the design. Design process commences
• 5 February 2025 - Housing mix and typologies finalised with Design Team
• 6 February 2025 - first public information and consultation event held on outline designs being considered
• 6 March 2025 - second public information and consultation event held to provide information on preferred design layouts

Proposed future timeline

These dates are based on the current proposed project programme and may vary as the project progresses:

• April 2025 - planning application to be submitted and building warrant application process started
• June/July 2025 - planning application decision expected
• October 2025 - construction phase mobilisation
• November 2025 - building warrant stages complete
• November 2025 - construction work commences
• September 2027 - construction complete

Proposed site plans

A copy of the proposed site plans and potential floor plans and site elevations were displayed on information boards at the public information and consultation event held in early 2025. The PDF version of the boards (PDF, 7 MB) show the content from five boards which include the timeline set out on this page, photographs of the current site and a map showing the site's proximity to key amenities including food and beverage, medical, schools, transport, health and fitness, arts and entertainment, supermarket and food stores - all of which are available within a maximum of 25 minutes walking distance of the site.

The plans also show a schedule of accommodation for 20 one-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom flats within the former school building itself, plus 20 two-bed cottage flats within the grounds of the site (over five buildings) and the former janitor's house on site turned into a three bedroom house. Overall this provides 45 units with parking allocations for 46 spaces, secure cycle parking and bin storage. Following feedback from the initial public consultation event in February, consideration is also being given to a two way road access system to the site.

Frequently asked questions

When and why was it decided to close and declare the school as surplus?

A decision was taken in October 2018 by the Lifelong Learning Committee following an options appraisal process and formal consultation process to close Balhousie School and merge it with North Muirton Primary School as soon as a new school could be built. Part of the report conclusions was that "Significant benefits could be provided to pupils from the Balhousie Primary School catchment area through access to a modern, purpose-built, fully accessible and well-designed learning environment". 

When was the school building declared surplus?

On 5 June 2019, the school was formally declared to be surplus and would be closed when the school transferred to the new school building.

Why did it take another four years to close the school?

During 2020 to 2024 the new school building was designed, tendered, and constructed. Balhousie School was closed in June 2023 after the pupils transferred to the new school campus.

Why was the decision taken to convert the school to housing?

During March and April 2023, a survey was undertaken to consider the future use of Balhousie School. The survey was carried out on line and was promoted to residents, parents and local community groups.

206 responses were received making the following suggestions:

• 46% housing (affordable 30% and private 16%) 
• 32% community use 
• 11% combination of above 
• 10% other 

On 28 June 2023, following a detailed options appraisal the Council's New Build Housing Board opted for a Council-led Social Rented Housing Development. The project was then approved to be included in the Council's Strategic Housing Investment Plan at the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on 29 November 2023.

When and why was it decided to focus on social housing rather than selling the site for private development?

In June 2023 an options appraisal was carried out that looked at options including sale of the land, providing Mid-Market rent housing and an option for council rented housing. The options appraisal highlighted that the council led social rent option was the popular choice within the recent survey, that it met council priorities including the decision to delivery 210 new affordable houses annually, and it would help ensure the listed building is retained and enhanced. The Councils' New Building Housing board selected this option for the site. 

What is the overall project proposal?

The project is planned to deliver 45 new homes. These will include 24 x 1 Bedroom, 2 Person converted flats in the existing school building. They will be standard flats as the restrictions in the existing building prevent us providing level access to the ground floor flats and achieving the higher space standards needed for wheelchair or other specialist housing. 

The former janitor's house will be converted back into a 3-Bedroom, 5- or 6-person house and within the school grounds 20 additional 2-Bedroom, 4-person new build cottage flats will be built with four new blocks being constructed to provide 20 new build homes. The ground floor flats will be designed to suit people with minor disabilities, but not to full wheelchair standard and the upper flats will be standard flats.

Will the new development have sufficient parking provided?

In total the project will deliver 45 new car parking spaces, 43 within the grounds of the project and 3 new on street parking spaces that will be brought into use by removing the current parking restrictions at the entrance to the school. 

As this is a city centre development, is being designed using the principles of a 20-minute neighbourhood and based on experienced and past statistics, 45 spaces for a development of this type is appropriate.  

How and when will the project be taken forward? 

The detailed design has been completed, and we expect to submit a planning application before the end of March. 

The planning process will take at least 8 weeks and will consider the proposal in detail covering issues such as the overall look, impact on the listed building, road layouts and parking, surface water and waste water systems and the impact on the existing infrastructure etc. The planning process also considers any objections. Members of the public will have the opportunity to view the plans and make any representations in response to the proposal plans via the planning process, further information on this can be found at here.

A decision should be received in June/July. The project will also go through a process to obtain a building warrant which will start during the planning phase and will extend to around November.

When is construction due to start and how long will it take?

We expect construction to start around November 2025. The construction is expected to take 22 months, the project will take time especially the work in and around the listed building, as this must be carried out very carefully to ensure features that are being retained are properly protected and to record any features that will be retained but will be covered up by the conversion work.

What actions will be taken to minimise disruption during the construction phase?

As part of any planning approval conditions will be set that limit working hours and impose restrictions on working practices that the planning department feel are warranted taking into account the site location. 

In addition, the contractor will produce a project plan that will highlight how they intend to minimise disruption. This will include measures to reduce sound and dust, arrangements for deliveries and other heavy construction traffic movements and site protection and protection of neighbouring buildings and passers-by. This Plan will be reviewed by PKC and our health safety and other consultants to ensure we are happy that the work will be carried out in a safe and considerate way. 

How will the new homes be let by the Council?

The properties will be allocated to people who have applied to the Common Housing Register. The allocation of new-build properties usually takes place around 2 months before the expected completion date. The properties will be allocated in line with the Common Allocations Policy which has recently been reviewed with the revised Policy taking effect from April 2025. It is not anticipated that there will be any further revisions to the Policy prior to the completion of these properties. Visit the Common Housing Register/Policy pages of this website for more information. 

What are the different types of social housing?

Information on the difference types of affordable housing can be found on the types of affordable housing pages of this website.