Aberdour residents are celebrating after councillors threw out plans for two major housing developments in the village.
The decision was welcomed by villagers who had gone to Dunfermline City Chambers to hear the west planning committee discuss Cala’s proposal for 85 new homes on a field at the east of the village and Campion Homes’ bid to build 80 homes beside Nether Bouprie Farm to the west.
The Cala development had been recommended for approval, with council planners arguing it was needed to help meet a shortfall in housing land.
However, the committee’s convener, SNP councillor Alice McGarry, reeled off a list of policy reasons for why the scheme should not go ahead — and won the backing of everyone around the table.
The Campion proposal had been recommended for refusal. Conservative councillor Alan Craig raised an amendment to approve, but there was no seconder.
A spokeswoman for Easter Aberdour Residents Group said: “We are delighted to hear that the committee has made the right decision on both Aberdour sites today.
“We’re pleased that the village voice is being listened to and recognised, and hope that continues throughout any further process.”
Councillors unanimously rejected the Cala plans after seeing for themselves the traffic congestion experienced on the A921 at the east of the village during a site visit earlier in the day.
Mrs McGarry said transportation measures aimed at easing congestion mentioned in the report were “all very laudable” but did not “address the very serious problems of traffic using the brae.”
She referred to the Scottish Government reporter’s conclusions during the preparation of the local development plan, the FIFEplan.
The reporter said the road network at the east of the village was “not ideal” and that the west of the village should be considered for any future growth.
Mrs McGarry warned against “driving a horse and coach through the recommendations in the adopted development plan.”
She added: “There is for me a question mark over the extent of the housing land supply shortfall in this area.”
Agreeing with Mrs McGarry’s motion, Labour councillor Helen Law said: “It was very clear today at the site visit that this is absolutely unsuitable for development in that way.”
Raising his unsuccessful amendment to approve the Campion Homes scheme, Mr Craig said: “I think this is a better site than the previous one. If approved it might well ensure some defence against future development in Aberdour.”
