The proposal was submitted in a bid to secure the long-term future of the club but councillors have been recommended to refuse the application when it is put before the entire council for consideration on Wednesday, September 10.

Major developments that are “significantly contrary to the development plan” have to be determined by the full council rather than the council’s Planning and Placemaking Committee.

Craigie Hill Golf Club has drawn up plans – in partnership with Kilmac Ltd – to reconfigure its course at Pickembere and half it from 18 holes to nine. As well as building up to 175 homes on the northern part of the course, there are proposals to remodel the clubhouse to create a community hub, as well as bike trails, a pocket park, greenkeeping shed, padel/pétanque courts and golf practice areas.

Perth and Kinross Council has received 212 letters of support for the application and 107 objections.

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Reasons given supporting the application include: securing the future of the golf club which dates back to 1911; providing affordable homes as planning policy requires that 25 per cent of the proposed housing be affordable; flood mitigation measures will reduce flood risk; the character of the area will be improved, and it will provide jobs and boost the economy.

Objectors concerns’ include: fears it will exacerbate existing flooding issues in the area; inappropriate use of land; light pollution; noise pollution; tree loss; houses being too close to the Aviva wind turbine; the development would be out of character, as well as concerns about the impact on traffic, parking and  existing services and infrastructure.

The council’s own Development Plan Team, Transport Planning Team and Biodiversity Team all objected to the plans.

The report – being put before councillors on Wednesday – states PKC’s Development Plan Team objects to the proposal to build so many homes on green belt land and “advised that ad hoc and unplanned approval of such development in the green belt could set a significant precedent and place pressure for development on other parts of Perth’s Green Belt”.

Transport Planning also objected because the submitted Transport Assessment did not consider the potential impacts of the proposed supermarket on Necessity Brae “on the assumption that it was quashed following judicial review”.

In June 2025 councillors voted – for the third time – for Aldi to replace its Glasgow Road store with a larger store on Necessity Brae. Previous plans were subjected to a judicial review – following a legal challenge by Tesco – and the Court of Session quashed Aldi’s planning permission on April 26, 2024.

PKC’s Biodiversity Team also objected to Craigie Hill Golf Club’s plans due to the loss of 0.35 hectares of native upland mixed ashwood and habitat loss and “insufficient information” on why the loss could not be avoided, reduced, or compensated for.

As a result, officers have recommended councillors refuse the proposal on the grounds of: no reasoned justification for a development of this scale on Perth’s green belt; insufficient information on the loss of trees and habitat, and due to the existing access and proposed emergency access to the site both being on or near to areas at risk of flooding.

However Craigie Hill Golf Club previously said “status quo is not an option” at a time when Scotland is losing community golf clubs.

After lodging the plans last year, club captain and Transition Board member Dave Mitchell said: “The status quo is not an option. Two golf clubs have closed recently in Scotland. These proposals present a one-off opportunity to create a sustainable future for Craigie Hill and ensure the local community can enjoy the leisure provision for years to come.”

Perth and Kinross councillors will meet in the council chambers – to consider the plans and reach a decision – on Wednesday morning.