The house builder behind what has been described as the biggest development in St Andrews’ historic core since the cathedral, is pressing ahead with proposals for more flats at the site despite a Scottish Government reporter’s ruling.
Knightsbridge’s appeal to the Government for consent for 28 flats beside St Nicholas House, in the old St Leonards School grounds at Abbey Park, was dismissed, several months after Fife Council rejected the scheme.
But it has entered a partnership with retirement home builder McCarthy and Stone and as the determination was released, plans were lodged for 18 apartments at the same site.
Knightsbridge has agreed to sell the land to McCarthy and Stone if the new proposal succeeds.
Work has already begun elsewhere on the site, where the green light was given for 191 new homes, including the conversion of St Nicholas House into flats.
Knightsbridge land director Robert McKinnon said: ”We are obviously hugely disappointed with the decision to dismiss our appeal but remain absolutely committed to our vision for this site in the heart of St Andrews.”
At a public consultation event in June, 78% of respondents thought McCarthy and Stone’s scheme for 18 retirement apartments beside B-listed St Nicholas House was more appealing than that of Knightsbridge.
Managing director Stephen Wiseman said: ”We believe these additional quality retirement apartments will provide much-needed housing for older people in the local area.
”We’re committed to consulting with the local community and wanted to ensure we were fully transparent from the start that we were bringing forward an alternative proposal, in discussion with Knightsbridge, which could offer a better solution for the site.”
However, the Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community remains unhappy with the developers’ intentions.
Its planning convener Howard Greenwell welcomed the reporter’s dismissal and said: ”The Knightsbridge block was clearly not in keeping with the area and certainly, as the reporter has indicated, would have dominated the surrounding area and the views of some of the listed buildings nearby.
”There are too many properties proposed for this area. We will also be objecting to the McCarthy and Stone retirement properties.
”The community council would like to see some retirement bungalows with small gardens there but the commercial developers want to get every penny they can.”
The community council had also suggested that the land be retained as an amenity lawn, which it has been since St Nicholas House was built in the 1930s.
Knightsbridge argued that its three and four-storey block of flats would have had minimal impact on the street scene and conservation area.
However, reporter Richard Bowden deemed the council justified in refusing planning permission for the crescent-shaped building.
He said in his report: ”The proposed block would be dominant and overbearing, particularly when viewed from the houses and gardens along Greenside Place immediately to the north-west of it.
”The scale, bulk and design uniformity of that proposed would be out of keeping with and would adversely impact on the character and amenity of the surrounding area to an unacceptable extent.
”As such, it would be inappropriate in its local context, particularly when the appeal site has three listed buildings in its immediate vicinity and is within a conservation area.
”I conclude that the proposal would adversely affect the settings of the three adjoining listed buildings that are situated in close proximity to it and would also detract from the character and setting of the conservation area of which it forms part.”