Concerns have been raised about a development firm’s £70 million plans for a site in St Andrews town centre, ahead of a public exhibition.
Knightsbridge, a division of Robertson Homes, wants to create almost 250 new homes on land at St Leonards, which includes Abbey Park House and St Leonards Lodge.
The first phase, if given the green light, would be the conversion of the B-listed St Nicholas Lodge into 49 luxury flats. It is due to present its plans to the public at St Nicholas Lodge and will be seeking views on them.
However, Penny Uprichard, of St Andrews Community Council planning committee, said, “The planning committee is concerned over the lack of a masterplan in the proposed Knightsbridge development.
“Its first application is for 49 units, thus deliberately avoiding the threshold of 50 units a major application which would require a 12-week consultation and eventual approval by the full Fife Council.
“Council officials are considering whether to require a masterplan, development brief, design statement or strategic plan framework. It is not clear what requirements these different procedures impose on developers for community consultation and environmental assessment.
“Piecemeal development is not all-owed under a masterplan, but it is not clear whether under other headings Robertson Homes will… apply for sections of the site one after the other, thus avoiding a major application.”
There is also concern the proposed units would be in addition to the 1090 new homes the Fife Structure Plan proposes for St Andrews. As the site is partly brownfield, Fife Council may consider the project a “windfall.”
Ms Uprichard said, “The planning committee believes the public has the right to know whether the number of units will be deducted from the 1090 western extension units.”
Knightsbridge met St Andrews Preservation Trust on Monday to talk about the proposals for its Abbey Park masterplan. The exhibitions, a spokesman said, would allow the wider public to see what is proposed.
He said, “We look forward to hearing people’s views and will… respond to detailed points raised in August.”
The displays are noon-8pm on Friday, July 30, and 10am-4pm on Saturday.