Fife councillors turn down bid for flats and detached home at St Andrews property
Plans to change a St Andrews home into four flats and build a detached property within its garden grounds have been rejected by councillors.
CAF Properties had applied for permission for the changes at Drumskaith at 8 Donaldson Gardens.
They wanted to change the use of the six bedroom property to form the flats, erect an extension and carry out external alterations, build one house and form a car park.
Alterations to existing access and boundary walls, the install of EV charging points and landscaping were also part of the proposals.
A report considered by members of Fife Council’s North East Planning Committee on Wednesday explained that the application had undergone several design iterations before this proposal had been lodged.
Earlier versions generated more than 30 objections, with concerns including overdevelopment, loss of garden ground, impact on trees, parking pressures and potential harm to the Hepburn Gardens conservation area.
Planner Scott McInroy acknowledged the concerns.
“Fife Council’s built heritage officer was consulted and objected to the proposal even though they have said the latest proposal does lessen the impact on the conservation area and the adjacent listed building,” he told councillors.
“However through the design revisions and from moving the proposed dwelling from in front to the side of the site, we believe this proposal would not visually impact on the conservation area or the adjacent listed building.”
Mr McInroy had recommended that the plans be approved stating that the design, scale and location of the new house, although modern in style, was considered to be appropriate in terms of size and location.
However Councillor Robyn Lawson disagreed and raised an amendment to refuse the plans on the grounds of overdevelopment and impact on the conservation area.
“I feel this is overdevelopment and infilling of a garden,” he said. “Plus, there is movement of trees that could be damaged in the process.”
The committee voted to refuse the planning application on a vote of eight to three.