Creation of a £20 million holiday park near St Andrews has been given the go-ahead by Fife Council
Gleneagles Holiday Park, which owns lodges in Perthshire and Angus, is to build 82 lodges at Northbank Farm, near Cameron.
The development on 6.6 hectares of land off the A915 between Largoward and St Andrews will also include a restaurant, retail and reception.
However, its construction will be subject to the granting of a licence by environment agency Sepa, as significant engineering works are required to prevent pollution.
The site is 120 metres from Cameron Reservoir, a protected wildlife area, and the local community council called for assurance that neither it nor Cameron Burn were polluted by effluent from the development.
A submission by Sepa stated it was likely that a “highly engineered solution” would be required meeting stringent licence requirements to ensure no impact on local groundwater.
Its senior planning officer Anna Gaffney said the potential impacts to the water environment by the development were “very significant”.
Concerns were also voiced about safety on the A915 and the additional traffic the resort would produce before the planning application was approved by the council’s north east planning committee.
St Andrews Liberal Democrat councillor Jane Ann Liston said that a series of new developments had added to pressure on St Andrews’ road network.
She said: “People are worried about the cumulative effect of all these developments.”
East Neuk and Landward Conservative councillor Linda Holt said: “I am worried about the speed of traffic on that road (A915).
“There is an emphasis on cycling and walking but it would be terrifying to walk or cycle on that road.
“The officers say that is not a cycle route but it is going to be used as a cycle route by the people that stay in the lodges.”
Transport officers stated that the entrance to the resort was on a long, straight stretch of the road, providing acceptable visibility splays, and that a reduced speed limit would be unsuitable for the location.
Scottish Natural Heritage advised that the development would not adversely impact on the integrity of the reservoir, subject to mitigation, including a gate preventing access at certain times to protect pink footed geese.
Development of the site has been a long time in planning and it was first granted permission in principle eight years ago for 20 holiday units and 15 houses.
Gleneagles Holiday Park, owned by the Stewart family, acquired part of the site in December 2016.
The applicant’s agent said that the destination would enhance the area’s tourism potential and benefit the local economy.
A report to the committee by planner Alex Laidler said: “The proposal is acceptable in principle, in terms of road safety and transportation and in terms of its environmental impact, in particular with respect to its landscape and visual impact and its impact on habitats.
