Councillors have been urged to allow the demolition of a distinctive East Neuk hotel to make way for modern townhouses.
Planning officers have recommended approval of an application to bulldoze the Balcomie Links Hotel in Crail when the North East Fife planning committee meets on Wednesday.
The current hotel owner is retiring and the need for an extensive upgrade is said to have discouraged potential buyers.
Applicant Alex McQuade from Falkirk has applied to build seven three and four-bedroomed houses in a single three-storey terraced block.
The recommendation to approve, subject to a number of conditions, comes despite 20 letters of objection from local people.
Protestors are concerned about the size of the proposed development and claim it would be out of character with the area.
The village’s community council has also objected.
Planning officer Ewen Campbell said most of the letters of representation raised no objections to the proposed demolition of the existing hotel, which was built in the early 1900s, but had concerns about what would go in its place.
One person did object to the loss of the hotel, however, describing it as an art deco local landmark.
In a report to go before the committee, Mr Campbell said: “The design and layout are considered to present a distinctive contribution to the streetscape in this location and, while of a greater mass than the existing hotel, is acceptable in this circumstance.”
He added: “The proposal is compatible with its surrounds in terms of land use; would not cause any material detrimental impacts on surrounding residential properties; is considered acceptable in terms of its design, scale, position and impact on the environment, providing a positive contribution to the townscape.”
In a letter to Fife Council, Max Taylor, chairman of the Royal Burgh of Crail Community Council, said: “The nature and quality of the design of the proposed houses are out of character with the area.
“The proposed design will neither integrate with the adjacent Balcomie Estate nor the bungalows on the other side or across the road.
“The design shows no evidence of acknowledging the distinctive qualities of Crail of East Neuk architecture.”
