CLAIMS HAVE been made that a housing association wants to create a “ghetto” of affordable homes in Tayport, at time when millions of pounds are being spent tearing down high-density housing elsewhere in the country.

The statement was made at a planning appeal on Kingdom Housing Association’s plans for the building of 26 houses and 30 flats on a site off Newport Road.

The association has appealed against a refusal of planning consent by Fife Council, claiming the council’s reasons for the decision were were “unjustified, inconsistent and unsustainable.”

The area committee rejected the plans by eight votes to six earlier this year after council officials had recommended approval, but in its grounds of appeal of appeal Kingdom Housing Association said there would be wider benefits, in terms of contributing to a mixed and balanced community and providing badly-needed affordable housing.

A spokesman for the association said, “The suggestion by Fife Council that the proposed development will result in harm to the amenities of its occupiers and the wider area is a result of subjective and prejudicial views— contradicted by professional advice.”

Tay Bridgehead member Ron Caird said the plans showed “inappropriate scale on an inappropriate site.”

He also refuted claims about the conduct of councillors and stated that the democratic process had been carried out.

The council submission states that Kingdom Housing Association had been very open about the fact that the driving factor in design is the need for financial viability.

The council stated that it backs the principle of affordable housing, but said the density would be be greatly in excess of that in surrounding housing.

Reporter Mike Croft made a site inspection yesterday, and his decision will be issued in due course.