A massive housing development in Kinglassie has been given the green light.
The seven-hectare green space on the eastern edge of the village will become a 211-home estate with two new junctions along Kinglassie Road.
The development to the south of Hill View will feature a mix of two to four-bedroom houses.
And it will also have 45 affordable homes, which planning officers say far exceeds the 10% requirement for the area.
Approval for the Ladybank-based Quale Homes development was given despite significant traffic problems and eleven community objections.
Kinglassie Community Council chairman Gordon Mitchell expressed concerns about primary school capacity, overstretched medical practices, and traffic management.
Busy junction already above capacity
Kinglassie Road and the B922 junction is already operating above capacity.
However, planning officer Bryan Reid said developers cannot be expected to provide a solution to the existing problem.
He said: “The onus isn’t on the developer to find a solution for this junction.
“It only has to mitigate its own problems, which it is doing.”
Developers will add a 20-metre turning lane on B922 for cars turning left on Kinglassie Road.
“Traffic modelling predicted that once the flare lane is installed, the junction would still be over capacity but the junction would probably be operating in accordance with what it does now,” Mr. Reid said.
Kinglassie site is earmarked for housing
Glenrothes Labour councillor Derek Noble was not pleased with the solution.
He said: “We’re going to put more traffic on to an already busy road, creating more transport problems for that junction, and all we’re suggesting to do is put a 20-metre section in, which isn’t really going to alter the problem, at all.”
However, suggestions to force developers to create a signalled junction were shot down by the council’s legal team.
Solicitor Mary McLean said: “Those problems exist now without this development.
“The (proposed left turn lane) makes sure the development won’t contribute any further. That’s as fair as you can expect from the developer.”
The site is zoned in the Fife Plan for housing and, as such, planning officers recommended approval.
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