Appeal verdict upholds decision to refuse housing development near St Andrews

A developer has lost its appeal to build new homes near St Andrews.

Blazon Investments Ltd attempted to overturn Fife Council’s decision to refuse its change of use application to demolish the former Kinaldy Equestrian Centre and build five homes on the site.

However the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) dismissed the bid on the grounds the development did not comply with planning policy and was not in the public interest.

Among the objectors to the proposal, which was thrown out by north east Fife councillors last year, was Cameron Community Council. The community council said allowing the centre to be replaced by housing would set a precedent.

”If each time an agricultural or rural business fails it is allowed to sell on land for development this will result in a situation that the planners will find very difficult to control,” warned the group. ”It will also, of course, result in the decay or erosion of a rural community.”