By Graeme Bletcher

PLANS FOR 1200 new homes and a primary school south of Kirkcaldy have been unveiled.

The public can have their say on the proposals for Invertiel and Tyrie farms, to the south of Balwearie golf course, at the end of next week.

Developers Cala Homes Ltd, who specialise in the luxury market, hope to develop the area over the next 20 years.

They will be outlining their plans at a public exhibition to be held in the Mercat Centre on August 31 and September 1.

Representatives will be attending the interactive exhibition from 10am to 5pm on both days.

Cala Homes director Derek Lawson is hoping to engage the community in the plans.

He said, “Cala Homes are keen to involve and receive input from local residents and interest groups on the form of development envisaged within the Fife Structure Plan for south-west Kirkcaldy.”

He added, “South-west Kirkcaldy is planned to accommodate 1200 new homes over the period to 2026. However, even at this early stage, Cala are keen to establish what individual members of the public consider to be the issues facing the area, the impacts and potential wider benefits to Kirkcaldy.”

The public are invited to find out further information, ask questions and state opinions using feedback forms.

The results will then be collated and presented to Fife Council to be used in the local plan for Kirkcaldy and Mid-Fife.

This plan should be completed by early next year, and there will be precise confirmation on the location and scale of the development including the expected “developer requirements.”

These are responsibilities to the public including education, leisure and recreation provision, affordable housing and improvements to local facilities.

Mr Lawson believes it is important that these needs are met, and commented, “The building of new houses is not simply about meeting housing needs, it signifies a significant financial injection into the local community in terms of creating jobs, with a resultant benefit for the economy.”

Fife Council has also identified a separate growth area in the north-east of Kirkcaldy with the capacity to accommodate 2500 new homes within the same time frame.