A controversial large-scale housing development, which would have virtually united two west Fife towns, has been thrown out.
Taylor Wimpey’s plans for the land at Spencerfield, which lies between Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, had seen Fife Council inundated with objections.
More than 250 objections were lodged for the proposal, involving 450 homes on the 32-hectare farmland site.
The site is bounded on one side by the B-listed late 16th or early 17th Century Spencerfield House and on the other by Inverkeithing High School.
The housebuilder had said the greenbelt site was the only viable option for the expansion of Inverkeithing, enclosed as it is on other sides by the River Forth, the M90 and the A921.
As part of its application for planning permission in principle, the company offered a substantial sum of planning gain to kickstart the regeneration of Inverkeithing’s Fraser Avenue.
However, opponents voiced their fears that the large development would have an unacceptable impact on the natural beauty of the area.
They also feared it would result in the two west Fife towns becoming one merged community.
Others claimed this proposal would delay any work on the Caldwells papermill site in Inverkeithing harbour.
There were also concerns about its impact on road safety and worries that it would result in congestion around the local schools on Hillend Road.
Fife Council officers recommended the plan be refused, as the development of the Spencerfield site was not supported in the adopted local plan and was considered to be significantly contrary to the development plan.
They considered the application was premature and argued that approving the scheme would prejudice the ability of the council to undertake a full assessment of all the local potential sites for housing.
They also recommended refusal in the interests of road safety, pointing out that the plan had only one vehicular access at present. In addition, in the absence of a bat survey or scoping report, the local authority could not be satisfied that the development wouldn’t harm a protected species.
West Fife planning committee backed council leader Alex Rowley’s motion to refuse the application.