Appeal over housing bid in Fife village goes to Scottish Government

Mark and Jane Fleming had lodged the application for planning permission in principle with Fife Council in April, seeking to secure a preliminary nod for the housing estate on land on Ceres' western edge alongside the B939.

They say a more detailed application would then follow once they had attracted a developer for the site, in line with Scottish planning regulations.

However, despite being recommended for approval by council planning officers, councillors on Fife's Planning Committee rejected the plan due to concerns they had with its design.

The proposal had received 81 objections from members of the public, as well as an objection from the Ceres and District Community Council.

Concerns ranged from the design of the estate to the impact on local roads and a lack of community consultation being carried out by the applicants, as well as whether the design sat well with surrounding homes.

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Agents acting for Mr and Ms Fleming say the council "failed to provide appropriate reasoning" and did not exercise "balanced planning judgement" in making its decision.

Their appeal statement, lodged with the Scottish Government's Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) this week, claims the council acted prematurely in refusing the application for reasons of "visual amenity" when more detailed proposals on design were not due until later in the process.

"In determining the application, the planning authority has failed to provide appropriate reasoning to refuse the application relative to the actual proposed development," the statement read.

"Approval of the (planning permission in principle) will more accurately guide detailed proposals to be worked up in due course by a developer, following marketing and identification of a preferred bidder."

Fife Council has been invited by the DPEA to submit a response in support of its decision to refuse the development. Members of the public can also make representations via the DPEA website.

The appeal will then be considered by a Scottish Government reporter, who is expected to deliver a verdict before the end of February.

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