PERTH — Councillors have unanimously approved a £500 million masterplan for Perth West, a vast new development that will include up to 1,500 homes, an Eco-Innovation Business Park, a hydrogen fuelling centre, a heritage park and something called the Perth Innovation Highway.

"Residents have asked us, 'What is the Innovation Highway?'" said Strategic Futures Lead Dr Alasdair Mair, holding a model car. "And our answer is: it's a highway. But — and this is the key part — it has been innovated. It's got the word 'innovation' in it now. You can't just drive on it in a normal mood."

The project is expected to take 30 years, meaning that children born in Perth today could reasonably expect to buy a home on the site by the time they are made redundant from it.

The first phase is an underpass beneath the A9 from Tweed Place, which has already been hailed as a triumph. "For generations, crossing the A9 on foot has been a spiritual experience," said local man Davie Imrie, 47. "You stand there, you think about your life choices, a lorry from Inverness passes so close you can read its tachograph. Now we just walk under it. I feel almost cheated."

Plans also include a heritage park, which council officials confirmed would celebrate Perth's long history of approving masterplans.

Critics have questioned whether the scheme is too ambitious. "In 2056, when it's finished, will Perth even still be a city?" asked one resident. "We've only had the title since 2012. It could be revoked for bad behaviour."

At press time, the council confirmed the first detailed planning application had been lodged, and the second would follow once the person who lodged the first had recovered.