An appeal has been lodged against Fife Council’s decision to throw out plans for a newbuild house in a St Andrews conservation area.
The owners of the site between Hepburn Hall and Lade Braes Walk, which was sold off by St Andrews University four years ago, want to build a modern, flat-roofed four-bedroom home.
Their proposal was supported by council planning officials but thrown out by North East Planning Committee in May.
Councillors refused planning permission on the grounds of loss of trees, road safety and the impact on an old boundary wall, which is C-listed.
In a submission to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division, Gray Planning and Development said the committee had not fully understood the proposal.
And the applicants were said to be “extremely surprised” that the plans had been opposed by the council’s tree officer.
“The appellants are very unhappy with the process surrounding tree matters as the evidence is clear that the proactive and progressive approach to finding a solution was not being reciprocated by the tree officer nor was there any indication via feedback for the third objection, that there was still dissatisfaction with the extensive detailed design proposals to mitigate tree matters,” said the agents.
Fifteen objections were received in response to the plans, in addition to nine letters of support.
