The developer behind a proposal for 85 new homes in Aberdour said there is a “pressing need” to build houses in Fife.
Cala Homes has lodged an application for planning permission in principle for the field south of the A921 at the east of the village.
Easter Aberdour Residents’ Group is fighting the proposals, and has highlighted the fact the site is not earmarked for development in the draft local development plan.
But Steven Cooper, planning manager at CALA Homes (East), said: “Up to now it has proven extremely difficult for young people in the village to remain and set up home given the low number of homes coming to the market.
“There is a pressing need for new homes across Fife, including Aberdour.”
Cala believes the Fife-wide shortfall of more than 5,000 homes identified in the local development plan adds strength to its bid to build in the village.
“If approved, our development would represent approximately a 10% increase in the housing supply in the village, a sustainable figure in keeping with the character of Aberdour,” said Mr Cooper.
“Despite there being a vocal and organised anti-development group in the village, we received a strong recurring message throughout our consultation that the village is in real need of more economically active families to support trades and local shops.
“We did receive a number of approaches from people wanting to buy a new home, who could not currently purchase in the village because of a lack of supply.”
A spokesman for Easter Aberdour Residents’ Group said the application would face strong opposition from villagers.
“This site has already been rejected for inclusion in the recently finalised local development plan by Fife Council and the Scottish Government appointed reporter who carried out a thorough review of the site,” he said.
The residents’ group said Aberdour was “beginning to feel rather under siege” from Cala.
“Developers in general have been given the opportunity to put forward new sites not already included in local development plans for consideration to meet any perceived shortfall in the five-year effective housing land supply required by SESplan,” added the group’s spokesman.
Access to the site would be from a T-junction at the A921, which already suffers congestion during peak times.
The plans follow a proposal by Hillside School to build a major housing development at its site less than half a mile along the road.
Iain Fleming, who chairs Aberdour Community Council, said: “It’s disappointing that this has come so soon in the midst of a large development being proposed for the village.
“If both of these proposals got the go-ahead, it would be ‘welcome to the town of Aberdour’.”
