Planning permission proposal for holiday let houses

Highland Perthshire is one of the areas included in the council's consultation

Homeowners wanting to turn a house into a new holiday rental property in two areas of Perth and Kinross could need planning permission under a new council proposal.

Residents and businesses are being surveyed over a proposed short-term let control area in Highland Perthshire and a northern part of eastern Perthshire.

The areas have higher concentrations of holiday rentals than other parts of Perth and Kinross, which the local authority said could reduce the availability of long-term rental housing and drive property prices up.

The proposal would bring houses into line with flats and apartments, which already require planning permission before conversion into holiday lets.

The council has launched a consultation on the proposal, which would need approval from the Scottish government if passed by the local authority.

Perth and Kinross Council said the proposal would help "strike a balance between the provision of homes for local people and allowing the valued tourism industry in the area to continue to flourish."

'Informed decision'

Perth and Kinross Council leader Eric Drysdale, said: "Introducing a control area would give the public and elected members a say on whether a new holiday let is appropriate for a particular area.

"It won't ban new holiday lets from coming on to the market but will ensure the impact on public services, noise and character of a neighbourhood is considered before any decision is taken."

The City of Edinburgh Council has a control area covering the whole local authority area, while Highland Council has a control area covering Badenoch and Strathspey.

Mr Drysdale added: "Tourism is a very important industry for Perth and Kinross and we want to make sure it operates in a sustainable way for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

"We are keen to hear from as many people as possible regarding this proposal so councillors can make an informed decision based on what residents and businesses think."

The consultation will run until 19 December.