An ambitious plan to build hundreds of new homes in Glenrothes’ west end could be back on track by the end of today.
Councillors will meet this afternoon to decide whether or not to grant an extension that would allow developer Saving Stream to transform the Whitehill Industrial Estate into a major housing estate.
Around 220 properties have been slated for construction at the site after planning permission in principle for the development was first granted in June 2012.
However, there have been no public developments since, with developers now seeking a three-year extension in order to get the project off the ground.
Members of Fife Council’s Central Area Planning Committee will meet at Fife House this afternoon to vote on the proposals, with Natasha Cockburn, Fife Council planning case officer, explaining the reason for the delay.
She said: “The extension of time is requested as the applicant entered into administration before they were able to make any significant progress with the development.
“The interest then passed to a different party who have sought to put in place the required agreements with neighbouring land owners in order to implement the planning permission.
“Up to the current point, this has been unsuccessful due to disparate ownership of neighbouring land, difficulty in finalising details of applications for matters specified in conditions and the ability of the developer to raise the necessary funding.
“It is now the intention of the applicant to take control of the part of the application site which is owned by the incumbent developer and seek to progress the required agreements to allow the development to come forward.”
Two separate applications are to be assessed by councillors, the first relating to the housing development itself, with the second regarding access roads.
A planning application to develop the site off Golf Course Road emerged in 2008, but was morphed into a second application for planning permission in principle two years later.
Since this was granted five years ago, work has been continuing behind the scenes to reach agreements with those businesses that would need to move from their current premises.
Developers hope these can be concentrated in the southern part of the estate, freeing up the northern half for new housing.
As well as residential properties, the new estate would also include a care home and pub, while a new access road at the west end of the A921, part of the second application, is also expected to be created.
