Contentious plans to expand a Kinross-shire village could be approved this week, despite a backlash from locals.
Proposals for 77 new homes on the edge of Milnathort will go before councillors on Wednesday.
The Pace Hill development is earmarked for eight-and-a-half acres of land north of Linden Park Road.
The developers, Livingston-based Dundas Estates, say the new homes are needed to meet local market demand.
However, the project has been criticised by, amongst others, the Kinross-shire Civic Trust, which points out that the land is zoned for just 50 houses in the council’s official local development plan (LDP).
Planners have received 66 objections from residents, as well as local community councils.
In its letter, the Milnathort watchdog group raises concerns about creating an “undesirable precedent” by allowing a 54% increase in homes, compared to the LDP.
A spokesman added: “The development as proposed would see an increase of up to 210 additional cars, the vast majority of which will require to travel south on North Street and through Wester Loan.
“Both of these routes have never been designed to deal with any volumes of traffic, always having been residential areas.”
He adds that traffic congestion would be “horrendous” during construction.
In a design statement issued to the council, a spokesman for Dundas Estates explains: “The capacity of the land to accommodate new houses is derived in part
by the local market – ie. the demand for particular sizes and styles of home – and in
part by the application of local planning policies, which provide a context for the
density and design of the layout.
“Dundas is of the view that the proposed application at Pace Hill accords with local planning policy for the provision of a variety of house sizes and that consequently the proposal does not represent ‘over-development’ of the land.”
A report on the development was brought before members of the council’s development management committee in October. They agreed to defer making a decision so they could first check out the site for themselves.
Interim development quality manager Anne Clondiffe has urged councillors to approve the plan, which she estimates will pump more than £1 million into the economy each year.
