Controversial plans to build 125 homes at Hillside School in Aberdour are expected to be thrown out by Fife Council.
Owners of the school, which offers residential support to boys with behavioural difficulties, have failed to submit information relating to sensitive wildlife areas at the site beside Main Street.
The Courier has now seen a memo from planning officers suggesting they have run out of patience and intend to reject the scheme.
The memo says: “Since the application was submitted, officers have repeatedly encouraged the submission of the information required to make a decision on the application.
“Unfortunately, we have now reached a point where we doubt the applicant’s willingness or ability to submit this information.
“There remains some outstanding questions relating to European Protected Species and the Firth of Forth SPA, SSSI and Ramsar site.
“These questions require further survey work which cannot be completed timeously because the relevant species are not active at this time of year.
“Because Fife Council cannot determine the application without this information, I have indicated to the applicant that we intend to refuse the application on the ground of a lack of information.
“The current scheme of delegation grants officers delegated powers to pursue this course of action and I intend to complete this process early next week.”
Hillside School had proposed the development as a means of funding a new school near the existing facilities, which include a 200-year-old building described as no longer fit for purpose.
However, the plans have proved unpopular with residents and around 460 letters of objection have been received by the council.
The Courier attempted to contact agents Felsham Planning and Development for comment but was unsuccessful.
Since the plans were first lodged, an amended masterplan has been submitted for the site.
The original masterplan which has since been revised.The plans originally included homes on the swathe of land south of the school buildings and north of Main Street, but this area is not earmarked for houses in the revised masterplan.
When contacted about the memo, Fife Council insisted no decision had been taken in relation to the proposal.
Kevin Treadwell, service manager for development management, said: “The application is still under consideration. It is not possible at this stage to confirm whether the application would be determined by committee or by officers exercising their delegated powers.”
