Controversial plans for accommodation pods in Rosyth have again been thrown out.
Capital and Provincial lodged a scaled-down proposal for 49 temporary, cabin-like homes to house staff coming in to the area to work on the Royal Navy aircraft carriers at Rosyth dockyard or the new Queensferry Crossing at the site of the former Forth Families Club after an earlier, larger plan was turned down.
If implemented, the development would see almost 200 workers living in the compound for up to five years.
However, the west Fife planning committee narrowly agreed to go against planning officials’ recommendations to give the development described as “unorthodox” conditional approval.
In a six-four split, they opted to back Labour councillor Mike Shirkie’s proposal seconded by SNP councillor Alice McGarry to refuse consent.
Both the original proposal and the revised plan have stirred up controversy in the community, with many people suggesting they were unsuitable for their purpose and that the location on a site lying to the south east of Castle Road was far from ideal.
More than 30 objections, with a 98-signature strong petition, were submitted. Issues ranged from fear of potential anti-social behaviour of resident workers, to the impact on local services. Some expressed “incredulity” that an application was lodged so soon after the original was turned down.
Many argued that land within the dockyard would be a better location for the pods. Six letters of support were also received.
In recommending the scheme be approved, council officers said: “The current application will result in an unorthodox development of residential pods for the housing of a temporary workforce within a largely residential area.
“On balance, it is to be acknowledged that the completion of the bridge and works on the aircraft carriers are essential to the economic health of Fife.
“Given the context, it is considered important to support these proposals, as they are a necessary component in ensuring the timely completion of these nationally significant projects.”
But Mr Shirkie said the application had divided the community.
Disassociating himself from “some of the language” used by some objectors, he said: “I have no problem with foreign workers coming to work in Rosyth.”
But, he argued, he believed there was sufficient scope for accommodation within the dockyard.
Mrs McGarry said that nothing brought forward in the second application had changed her mind that this was “the wrong development in the wrong place”.
In supporting conditional planning consent, Fife Council leader Alex Rowley said he felt some of the language around the debate had been “disappointing”, adding: “I do not think these will bring about disturbances in this area.”
He felt the developers had taken on board some of the concerns over the original plan.
“It is controversial and clearly there are differences of opinion in the community, but we need to look at this from a planning point of view.”
The committee chairman, Labour’s Bobby Clelland, moved the application be accepted, saying he was confident it would be a reasonable development. He was backed by Lib Dem councillor Tony Martin but the motion was defeated.
A C&P spokesman said: “Whilst we are obviously disappointed at the decision, we were very pleased that our application was supported by the director of planning, the council leader and the chair of planning.
“We were also pleased at the acknowledgement from Police Scotland that the development would reduce the likelihood of crime. We want to take some time to consider the impact of the decision on regeneration in the Rosyth area and will make further comments when appropriate.”