Plans are on the table to redevelop Scotland’s best preserved Second World War naval airfield.
Houses, a hotel, community centre and shops could be built at Crail Airfield if the masterplan being prepared comes to fruition and could impact on activities held at Crail Raceway.
The proposal is at an early stage but includes 47 acres of residential development alongside an artisan and craft village, community centre and land for heritage, commercial, light industrial and tourism and leisure uses.
The airfield, which is listed by Historic Scotland, was abandoned by the military 50 years ago and many of its buildings have fallen into a state of disrepair.
Former owner Willie Robertson, who died last year at the age of 47, had a long-held ambition to develop the site, which is used for car boot sales and motoring events, but his plans never got off the ground.
The land is now owned by his sister Victoria and plans are being developed for 50 hectares by Landvest, a company that specialises in buying land and selling it on with planning permission.
A public meeting is being held in Crail on Thursday at which it is hoped more information will be provided.
Community council chairman Jack Jarvis said: “If they go ahead with what they are looking at then I think they will need 200 plus houses to finance it.
“That would have a major impact concerning transport into and out of Crail.”
He added, however: “There is a desire to see what is perceived by many as a mess to be tidied up.”
The airfield, which lies just north of Crail, was used by the RAF during the First World War and the Royal Navy as HMS Jackdaw in the Second World War.
Around 2,000 personnel were stationed there, living at the airfield and in and around Crail. There are more than 130 military buildings there, 31 of them individually listed.
While some buildings are used for business and storage, others are redundant and in poor condition.
Landvest has submitted a proposal of application notice to Fife Council and intends to submit an application for planning permission in principle.