One of the largest single developments in Glenrothes in decades have been unanimously approved by councillors.
The £42 million project will transform the former Tullis Russell paper mill site and could solve problems surrounding a dangerous junction onto the A92.
The application by Advance Construction will see up to 850 houses, a 32-room care home and 16 retirement flats built on land occupied by the mill, which closed in 2015.
Retail, leisure facilities, business space and industrial units will also be created on the 130-acre site in the north of the town.
It will be developed in several phases over 10 years, with detailed plans of each phase to return to Fife Council’s planning committee for scrutiny.
Members of the central and west Fife planning committee heard on Wednesday that concerns around noise from the neighbouring biomass plant and the impact on traffic on the A92 past the site had been addressed.
Planning officer Chris Smith said a new route through the development between Markinch roundabout and Cadham would become the primary route for drivers, meaning they would no longer have to negotiate the notorious Cadham junction.
The roundabout will be upgraded with traffic lights to cope with the extra traffic and the nearby Preston and Bankhead roundabouts will also be improved in the future.
“There are no plans to close that junction off but it’s something we could look at in future if it’s considered necessary,” Mr Smith said.
“It is the intention to make that the primary route to avoid the existing bad junction.
“It would be designed accordingly.”
The developer will have to contribute towards a transport fund to ensure the improvements are paid for.
The committee heard 300 construction jobs worth £130m to the local economy would be created during the work, with 800 permanent jobs likely once it is complete.
The entire development would be complemented by an arts strategy reflecting the site’s industrial past, including heritage trails, viewpoints and information boards.
Glenrothes SNP councillor John Beare said: “This has the potential to be the largest single investment in Glenrothes since the days of Glenrothes Development Corporation.
“It’s absolutely enormous in terms of the impact on the town.”
