A Cupar councillor has sought assurances from Fife Council that the housing needs of the town will still be met if controversial proposals for 1,400 houses on the north side of town fall apart.
Independent Bryan Poole hailed progress on the council’s proposed local development plan and welcomed the aim of the council to listen to the concerns of communities during consultation.
But he said residents were “looking for some comfort” as discussions move forward over the proposed Cupar North development.
Persimmon Homes East Scotland, Headon Developments and Vico Properties Scotland Ltd have joined together to form a consortium to develop a masterplan for the northern expansion of Cupar.
The consortium says it is committed to a formal consultation period and will offer all interested parties a chance to get involved in discussions regarding the future expansion of the town, which has been zoned in the local development plan.
A fortnight after a delegation of Cupar residents told the town’s community council they were overwhelmingly opposed to the proposals, however and preferred the development of derelict sites in the town instead Mr Poole told Fife Council’s executive committee an “unconvinced community” wants assurances.
Mr Poole added: “We have a litany of unfulfilled promises dating back to 2006 when the original Cupar North consortium was created.
“That consortium then broke down amid the recession without one piece of turf being cut.
“My concerns are that a similar situation could happen again. In fact, the current consortium is not solid. One developer is working outside the consortium.”
Mr Poole said that this month the three Cupar Fife councillors and council officers met the consortium. A masterplan was due by the end of the year. At present, the proposal is for 1,400 houses, a bypass and industrial land on fields to the north.
This could expand Cupar by 25% but he said the proposals, mooted since 2006, were like a “boil on the edge of town” which prevented development elsewhere.
He added: “I want assurances that if Cupar North does not materialise, what happens then? If the consortium falls apart without a single house being built, what happens then? I want assurances that we can look at other options.”
Council planning official Bill Lindsay said the creation of a masterplan was key and a timetable is now in place. He added: “If there comes a point that the Cupar Strategic Development Area (CSDA) is not delivered, we will seriously consider looking at alternative measures to meet housing needs.”
Jim Kirkpatrick, spokesperson for the Cupar North consortium, told The Courier: “The principle of the northern expansion of Cupar, including 1,400 new homes, is established and supported by TAYplan and the adopted St Andrews and East Fife Local Plan.
“Furthermore, its development is necessary to fulfil a key component of Fife Council’s planning strategy for north east Fife.
“It is the Cupar North consortium’s aim to deliver this expansion by working with the community to create an appropriate development which will enhance the town and we look forward to engaging with all stakeholders to realise this.”
A fortnight ago, a former head of town and regional planning at Dundee University warned residents that it would be dangerous to blindly reject Cupar North when new homes will be needed in future.
David Kirk, who sits on the community council, said it was in the interests of the community to ensure a “coherent scheme” that takes account of development in Cupar over the next 10 to 15 years.
Picture by George McLuskie