A major development that would swell the population of Glenrothes could be approved by councillors next week.
Members of Fife Council’s central area planning committee have been advised to approve plans that would see 420 homes and numerous industrial units constructed in the south of the town.
The proposals, put forward by Landteam Scotland and Scottish Enterprise, have been earmarked for land at Westwood Park, near Stenton, where a small number of industrial buildings is already in place. If approved it would mark the biggest development of its kind in Glenrothes for a generation.
A report by Elspeth Cook, a case officer with Fife Council’s planning department, states: “The development proposals seeks to retain the existing industrial activity in the north and centre of the site and there are no plans to redevelop any of the existing occupied employment land for residential or other purposes.
“The spaces between these buildings and a large area of unused car park would continue to be available for employment-related development.
“A residential development of 420 homes would be promoted on the existing greenfield elements of the site, the western or south-east corner. Two accesses would be created to serve the western area and one access to serve the south-eastern area.”
The massive site 41 hectares in total would be zoned into two areas with access to industrial sites achieved from a current access point at the Bankhead roundabout.
To cater for new housing, road junctions would be created on Foxton Drive, where access points have been established for many years.
A retail area, potentially hosting a restaurant and childcare facilities, has also been proposed by the applicant.
The council’s education service has admitted that the planned development could pose some difficulties for schools, with pupils likely to attend primary school at either Pitteuchar East or Thornton before moving on to secondary education at Auchmuty High School.
A sum in the region of £100,000 is being sought from developers to combat potential capacity issues in local schools. A contribution towards Glenrothes’ public art provision would also be sought from those behind the project.
Only one objection has been received to the proposals, citing the impact of the development on the Bankhead Roundabout and the security of already-established industrial units on the site due to road access on Foxton Drive.
The viability of the project may hinge on funding for the business park side of the development, with a cross-subsidy finance scheme to be negotiated between the developers and Fife Council. Failure to agree this satisfactorily could render the housing development unviable.
Mrs Cook adds: “This requirement, coupled with the other financial requirements relating to the transportation infrastructure, education infrastructure and affordable housing, places significant pressure on the viability of the wider project.
“The eventual form of the legal agreement that manages the cross-subsidy and the other financial payments will be crucial in delivering a high quality but economically viable development.”
Picture by George McLuskie