A plan for redeveloping a site in central St Andrews is about to go out to public consultation.
Knightsbridge, which wants to build on the former St Leonards School land on Abbey Walk, has prepared the document with Fife Council, Kingdom Housing Association and NHS Fife.
The five-hectare site, which includes B-listed St Nicholas Lodge, Abbey Park House and the abandoned St Andrews Memorial Hospital, is owned by Robertson Homes, of which housebuilder Knightsbridge is a subsidiary, and NHS Fife.
Both Knightsbridge and NHS Fife have already submitted planning applications the former for the creation of 243 new homes, including conversions of St Nicholas Lodge and Abbey Park House, and the latter for 40 homes.
However, there were concerns about “piecemeal” development of the site, and Fife Council requested that a strategic development framework be drawn up before planning permission was considered.
The resulting document proposes a mixed use of residential and business, and that the site includes a hotel, either in Abbey Park House or the old hospital, and open space.
If the council’s north-east Fife area committee approves the draft framework on Wednesday it will be published for consultation this month and next.
In his report to the committee the council’s head of enterprise and protective services, Keith Winter, said the document would be the key guidance for determining current and future planning applications for the St Leonards site.
He said, “The draft strategic development framework establishes a strategy for developing the site in an integrated manner, avoiding piecemeal development, and ensuring that place-making objectives are established before considering detailed proposals.”
He said main stakeholders will be consulted this month and next “in conjunction with a wider public consultation exercise.”
The framework insists that key buildings, open spaces and site features be retained where possible and that the old, overgrown orchard be reinstated and the walled garden preserved and enhanced.
Promoting a range of uses, it also suggests there is an opportunity to create jobs, homes and community and cultural facilities.
Building heights, it says, should range from two-and-a-half to four storeys to give a variety of streetscapes and a sense of identity to individual streets.
The finalised St Andrews and East Fife Local Plan suggests the land be used for 120 houses, 1000 square metres of office space and a hotel. It is intended the framework will be finalised and adopted in the autumn.