NHS Fife has objected to the controversial Cupar North planning application amid fears for the town’s health services.
Health chiefs have taken the unusual step of submitting a formal objection to the proposal, which would see almost 1,500 houses built over 20 years.
There are concerns medical practices would be swamped as the population of Cupar increases by 30%.
And the impact on drainage at the nearby Adamson Hospital is also causing unease.
Cupar has two medical practices, each with 7,500 registered patients.
But Gina Logan, chairwoman of Cupar Community Council, says the surgeries in Bank Street will be under immense pressure if the application is approved.
“There’s no way they would cope with another 1,500 houses,” she said.
“That could mean an extra 4,000 people looking for medical treatment.”
And she confirmed drainage is already a problem in the area.
“There’s a big fear about flooding because water pours down that road when it rains,” she said.
“That’s been pointed out time and time again.”
Cupar North: Housing needed but health services are under pressure
North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie also urged caution.
He said the need for new housing must be balanced with the needs of local services.
“All medical practices are really struggling,” he said.
“In Cupar, like everywhere else, GPs are under pressure.
“And for the NHS to speak out it does tell you about the collateral nature of this development and the real fears public sector planners have.”
However, the Liberal Democrat MSP does not believe pressures on services should necessarily prevent all development.
“We need new housing but it’s the scale of it in such a short period of time,” he said.
“Little developments we can accommodate but big bang developments are much more challenging.”
Almost 500 objections received
Meanwhile, NHS Fife confirmed its objection to the plan.
Director of Property and Asset Management Neil McCormick said: “NHS Fife provided comments for consideration to the planning application for the new residential development proposed in Cupar.
“These comments related to the possible impact on drainage at the nearby Adamson Hospital, and the effect an increase in the population would have on local medical practices in the town.”
In all, almost 500 people lodged objections to the Cupar North application.
Alongside concerns over health services, the objectors raise fears over school capacity, traffic, flooding and the impact of 20 years of construction.
However, some people welcome the plans, saying they will bring jobs and prosperity to the area.
The Cupar North application
The application by Persimmon Homes is one of the largest ever in north east Fife.
It includes 1,480 new homes on farmland along Cupar’s northern edge, to be built in three phases.
And a primary school, relief road, hotel, retail, leisure and petrol station are also included in the multi-million-pound plan.
Persimmon says it is in line with Fife Council’s development plan.
And it says the provision of healthcare services is planned for by the council and the health board.
The application will come before councillors on the north east planning committee in due course.
