Councillors overturn decision on plans for new home near Largoward
Plans for a new home near Largoward have been given the go-ahead after councillors overturned an earlier refusal.
Planning permission in principle had been sought for a house on land east of Wharenui at Kings Highway.
Planning officers had knocked back the application in December last year as they ruled that the site had naturalised and the development would represent unjustified building in the countryside.
Officers also considered the site to be on the edge of an existing housing cluster rather than filling a defined gap within it.
However, applicant Liam Black appealed the decision arguing the land should be regarded as brownfield because it contains the remains of a former building and concrete base.
Members of the Fife Planning Review Body heard that the applicant also argued that the site met the council’s requirements for development within a rural housing cluster.
The body’s convener, Councillor David Barratt (Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, SNP), said a “good case had been made” that the site fell in a housing cluster while councillors also agreed that the site should be classed as brownfield land.
Cllr Gordon Pryde ( Dunfermline North , Labour) said: “It is a brownfield site in my view. It is not naturalised.”
Cllr Ken Caldwell (Buckhaven, Methil and Wemyss Villages, SNP) added: “I am struggling to argue against it being a brownfield site.”
The review body unanimously overturned the original refusal and approved the plans.