A CONTROVERSIAL application for a major new affordable housing development in Tayport was yesterday rejected by councillors.

In a discussion which split the views of councillors for Tay Bridgehead, members of the north-east Fife area committee of Fife Council rejected the plans from Kingdom Housing Association by eight votes to six.

The association was seeking consent to build 26 houses and 30 flats on a site just off Newport Road, but there had been strong objections from the community council and from a number of locals.

The application for a mix of rented and shared equity homes had been recommended for approval after previous plans were withdrawn, and one of the local members, Liberal Democrat Tim Brett, moved approval.

He said there was a need for affordable housing, the land involved had gone to the association from Fife Council, and the site was designated for housing in the local plan.

However another of the Bridgehead councillors, Tory Ron Caird, said the infrastructure on the site was insufficient for the plans proposed, residential amenity would be at risk, and this was “an inappropriate development on an inappropriate site.”

As part of the report it was stated the developer would have to provide a commuted sum of almost £100,000 for improvements to local services.

The money was to be provided because of an assessment from the council’s education service which showed the catchment projection for Madras College showed a 3% increase in the local population over the next 10 years.

It was said the occupancy of Madras is 96%, with 1683 pupils, and this is outwith the desired range of secondary school capacity of between 800 and 1400 pupils.

The officials stated with Tayport Primary at 82% capacity the proposal for 56 residential units would not on its own require the construction of a new school, but financial contributions should be made.

One of the major issues raised had been that of density, and it was acknowledged in the report a development guide of 35 units—21 fewer than the proposals—had been identified for the site.

Council officials, however, felt the design involved a type of development that responded well to the site’s characteristics.

The land involved was in the ownership of the council and was valued at £700,000, but it had been transferred to the association at nil cost to facilitate the delivery of an identified affordable housing need.

Another application for residential development, this time in St Andrews, was approved by the committee on the casting vote of chairman Andrew Arbuckle after a 7-7 tied vote.

The application was from Barnett Waddingham Trustees for the erection of eight flats and five houses at Westburn House, West Burn Lane, St Andrews.