Fife’s biggest holiday park operator has submitted fresh plans for an extension of its St Andrews site.
Abbeyford Leisure ran into a wave of objections last year when it proposed an additional 434 static caravans at St Andrews Holiday Park.
The site, off the A917 Anstruther road, is in the town’s greenbelt where development is strictly controlled.
Many people raised fears over the proposal’s impact on landscapes and views.
And the application was later withdrawn when council officers indicated it would result in unjustified loss of prime agricultural land.
The new bid is for a much smaller extension consisting of just 23 pitches with decking.
However, many of the original concerns remain.
Boarhills and Dunino Community Council said: “This development will disfigure the coastal views of St Andrews, affecting many A-listed buildings.”
The public now has until June 24 to comment on the proposal.
Why do owners want to extend St Andrews Holiday Park?
St Andrew Holiday Park is a long-standing, popular tourist destination.
It already has 434 static caravans and and area for 50 tourers and motorhomes.
However, it has been at capacity since 2017.
And the owners say there are no other appropriate areas of land within the park’s boundaries to allow it to grow.
They cite a growing waiting list for caravan pitches which they cannot satisfy through natural turnover.
Abbeyford says its revised application seeks to address the original concerns.
Its application states it will only use the field’s northern fringe.
And it contends a caravan site is less permanent that other developments and can be removed.
It also believes its effect would reduce substantially over time as it “integrates into the surroundings”.
How would extra caravans be used?
The extension to St Andrews Holiday Park is targeted primarily at people who want to buy a holiday caravan.
Abbeyford Leisure says 19 of the 23 would be sold to private owners.
The other four, meanwhile, would be used as “hire fleet” and made available for short-term holiday let.
As well as St Andrews, Abbeyford owns holiday parks at Elie and St Monans.
It also lets out holiday cottages in Lower Largo.
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