New bid for St Andrews care home after first attempt thwarted

A developer blocked from creating a new care home in St Andrews has launched a fresh bid for planning permission.

CAF Properties was told by a Scottish Government reporter it could not build a 40-bed care home in Hepburn Garden as the building proposed would be overbearing and neighbours would suffer too much disturbance.

It now has new designs to convert the White House, a former seat of the provost of St Andrews, into 38-bedroom home and has lodged an application with Fife Council.

The centre would replace ageing Gibson House, which is considered no longer fit for purpose.

CAF Properties said numerous amendments had been made, creating an innovative design with a secluded, south-facing courtyard.

Despite substantial objections to its first attempt, director Charlie Ferrari said the firm was committed to the project and confident it was the right fit for the town.

“We accept that there may be concerns from those who feel an intrusion into their neighbourhood,” he said.

“However, we believe we can deliver a building which will enhance the area and cause little or no impact through a series of well thought through acoustic treatments, significant additional planting and operational commitments.

“Through the fullness of time we believe it will be seen to be an inspirational solution for facilities for the elderly in St Andrews.”

William Gibson Trust, which operates Gibson House, is working with CAF Properties on the scheme.

Chairwoman Dorothea Morrison said: “The Gibson Trust has been looking unsuccessfully for new facilities for 17 years and we are confident that this project is now able to present the facilities that will be needed to deliver the highest quality of care to our residents.

“The Gibson Trust have no other viable alternative to rehome our residents in St Andrews and a turnkey care home opportunity would not be possible without this investment from CAF Properties.

“We are committed to being a good neighbour to the residents at Hepburn Gardens and would like to give our assurance and respond to their reasonable concerns they have.”

A number of groups lodged objections first time around.

One Hepburn Gardens resident, who did not want to be named, said she would be minded to oppose the application again, pointing to a previous report by an independent transport consultant who concluded the development “did not meet present day standards for access and would present an additional hazard to traffic, pedestrians and cyclists”.

“I doubt anything has changed to solve that problem, but the devil will be in the detail,” she said.