Construction of 40 new homes in a north-east Fife village has been approved by a Scottish Government reporter after Fife Council failed to deal with the plans on time.
There was substantial objection in Kingsbarns to the development either side of Station Road, on the western edge of the village.
Fife Council’s north-east area committee, which would have decided Cambo Estate’s planning application, voiced its opposition to the scheme.
The proposal was only taken to the committee after an appeal was lodged with the government as the deadline had been missed.
Objectors, including Kingsbarns Community Council, fear the houses will harm the landscape and that infrastructure, including the primary school, will be unable to cope with the extra population.
However, reporter Iain Urquhart deemed the 3.3-hectare development acceptable and granted planning permission subject to conditions on flood prevention and limiting the buildings to single-storey.
He said, “I consider that the site would present a logical opportunity for modest westwards expansion of the settlement without significant adverse visual impact on the landscape or on the setting of the village.”
The 40 homes will include 12 designated as ‘affordable houses’.
The houses on the south of Station Road, where a public open space is to be created opposite the village square and church, would be framed by existing development on Main Street, low dykes on three sides and trees, Mr Urquhart said. They would also create a strong, terraced frontage to Station Road and the proposed village green.
The houses to the north, he said, would be screened by buildings around North Quarter Steading and Torrie Wynd and would integrate well with that part of the village.
Fife Council had originally allocated the land for 40 houses in the St Andrews and East Fife Local Plan, but has since reduced the allocation to 20 units.
Mr Urquhart said, “A development of only 20 houses on a site of 2.6 hectares would constitute an unsustainable use of land and would likely result in an unacceptable, low density, suburban development form.”
A claim against the council for expenses was thrown out, although Mr Urquhart criticised a delay in responding to the appeal process.
Cambo Estate claimed the local authority acted unreasonably in submitting its responses to its appeal late, and that this incurred additional time and expense.
Mr Urquhart rejected the claim, but described it as “very regrettable” that the council did not respond timeously.