Hundreds of new homes have been earmarked for north of Dunfermline as the area’s planned expansion continues.
Developer I&H Brown has applied for planning permission in principle for a residential development on land to the east of the A823 at Colton, which is immediately north of the village of Wellwood and west of Townhill.
While a more detailed application will be forthcoming in due course if permission in principle is secured, indications are up to 450 homes of various types, tenures and sizes are proposed.
Around 25% of the new homes will be classed as affordable housing, with the remainder going out for private market sale.
Documents supplied by agent Ironside Farrar along with the application suggest there will be areas of open space, access roads, paths and cycle routes to Townhill Country Park, while two access points from the A823 are proposed on the western boundary of the 34-hectare site.
The blueprint also includes a commitment to deliver a section of the proposed Northern Link Road, which aims to remove traffic congestion from the centre of Dunfermline and link new housing estates, through the site, with the route stretching from Halbeath, through the Colton site, Wellwood/Milesmark before joining the A907 to the west of Dunfermline.
Pre-application consultation has been carried out locally and members of the public expressed concerns about the increased use of Townhill Country Park, how wildlife and biodiversity will be protected and how the development will impact on primary school capacity.
The applicants argue the scheme will “complement” Townhill Country Park and wildlife concerns have been addressed in an ecological impact assessment.
In relation to the school provision, I&H Brown say they will continue to “engage with Fife Council to agree an appropriate solution”.
Meanwhile, Kingdom Housing Association and Campion Homes have also signalled their intention to create a residential development on land to the north of Kinglassie Road at Auchterderran near Cardenden.
A previous planning application for the site was withdrawn due to flooding issues, but more land has been acquired to try and overcome this, with the site set to accommodate 48 houses.
David Taylor, secretary of Cardenden Community Council, said: “The possibilty of diverting the water into the burn behind the houses at Woodend is impractical as this is also a flood risk area and has already caused damage to property.
“There are already two housing developments planned in the village with another pending and several other sites allocated for housing.
“These should be progressed first before developers are allowed to extend into the countryside.”
Local people have been invited to a public consultation event at Bowhill Community Centre between 3 and 7pm on September 3 to discuss the plans.
