New educational campus and houses in Aberdour set to go ahead after appeal

The move comes after the controversial proposals for a new school and housing estate in Aberdour were refused in March by Fife Council.

The proposal, from Felsham PD, was for a new build education campus with associated business units at Hillside School.

The school is a private institution, which accommodates boys aged between 10 and 18 who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The plans included 125 new build homes to provide capital to build a new school. Planning permission in principle was previously refused by the council in February 2018 due to a lack of information.

The application was refused again in March for the same reason and environmental and traffic impacts.

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However, the case was put to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) after Hillside School appealed the council’s decision to refuse on the grounds of having received insufficient information relating to issues including flooding risk.

And yesterday, the Reporter give a notice of intention to allow the appeal and grant planning permission in principle.

The Reporter concluded that while the proposal is contrary overall to the development plan, he said planning permission in principle should be granted, subject to certain conditions being met, including a sustainable drainage system and drainage infrastructure, and to a planning obligation or some suitable alternative arrangement agreed with the planning authority.

Annabelle Ewing MSP for the Cowdenbeath constituency, said: “I am very surprised and disappointed to note the Reporter’s decision on the planning application for housing at Hillside School, not least because of the very serious concerns raised by SEPA and indeed Fife Council regarding flooding risks.

“I know the residents also have many concerns.

“On hearing the decision, I have been in touch with the chairman of the Aberdour Community Council and we will be discussing what further steps are available, including a request to the Scottish Government’s Housing Minister to call in the application.

“I urge Fife Council to be extremely rigorous in the application of Section 75 planning obligations to ensure that the concerns of my constituents are ameliorated as much as possible.”

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