Development of 45 new homes given go-ahead in Ladybank

The new houses will be built in an area between the village’s Commercial Crescent and Commercial Road by Ladybank Homes.

The decision came at the North East Fife Planning Committee, despite concerns from both councillors and local objectors over flooding, sewage and traffic.

But planning officer Derek Simpson assured the committee that all these concerns had been addressed and recommended that the development should go ahead.

Cllr Andy Heer questioned this: “What is going on with Scottish Water,” he asked, “we received a letter from them saying that the sewage system in Ladybank could not cope with any more houses?”

He recalled that until the arrival of the railway in the village, it had been known as Ladybog because the water table was so high, as, he said, it continues to be.

But Mr Simpson told him that as a result of further investigations, Scottish Water now believed there was sufficient capacity for this development and other proposals on the table.

The development will comprise a mixture of two, three and four bedroomed houses and flats, which raised concerns about the density of the site and the lack of open spaces in the planned development, amidst suspicions that there was less open space because it was affordable housing.

Committee chairman Cllr Frances Melville commented: “Just because it is affordable housing people should not have less amenities.”

“We have a policy that affordable housing should not be distinguishable from other houses,” Cllr Dorothea Morrison said: “We really do worry about this – if we are going to have more affordable housing then we should ensure the quality of life is the same for all residents.” And Cllr Karen Marjoram reminded councillors: “This is a site for families,” as she sought more footpaths linking the new development with the village.