MSP steps into controversial homes plan at Aberdour school

Reporters at the Scottish Government's Planning and Environment Appeals Division (DPEA) re-opened Hillside's appeal to comments from statutory consultees such as Fife Council and local MSPs on January 21 despite suggesting in December it would uphold the school's request to grant planning permission.

It had re-opened discussions with key figures because of new changes to Scottish planning law that affects how applications for sites not earmarked for development are considered.

However, opponents of Hillside's plan for 125 homes on the site of the school in Aberdour have seized upon this as a chance to have the them refused.

Cowdenbeath SNP member Annabelle Ewing said the "not at all common" backwards step in the process would not come by again.

Ms Ewing said: "This is a controversial application and I welcome the invitation issued by the Reporter to those who had taken the trouble to make an initial submission to the appeal process.

“Such an invitation from a Reporter in circumstances like this is not at all common and may well reflect the pressure Aberdour Community Council, the local community and local councillors have brought to bear together with my consistent interventions to oppose a development that we feel is unnecessary and unsuitable.

“Given the revisions of Scottish Planning Policy it is absolutely right that the Reporter look further at this application."

Hillside, an independent special school for boys with additional support needs, submitted its application in November 2018. The plans were refused early in 2020 because of concerns of flooding. Fife Council received 352 objections to the plans.

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Last May, the school submitted an appeal to the DPEA, seeking costs from Fife Council. The appeals body intimated in December it would grant approval.

However, the school was fiercely criticised for withholding information from Fife Council that it later gave to the Reporter. Similarly, the DPEA was criticised by Aberdour councillors and Ms Ewing for accepting and considering this information, contravening how it normally operates.

Among the documents Hillside handed that the council had not seen were wildlife surveys and environmental surveys - papers planning officers had asked for, but had not received.

DPEA appeals are typically conducted on an "as seen" basis, using exactly the same documents as local authorities.

The issue of flooding also took on new precedence following the severe flooding that affected south and western Fife - with opponents of the plans seizing on the impact as evidence of the site's unsuitability for homes. Council flood officers and environmental body SEPA had opposed the development.

Ms Ewing added: “It seems to be to be self-evident that the proposal does not contribute to sustainable development and the Reporter’s decision in initially granting the appeal was based on the mistaken consideration of a housing shortfall which does not exist.

“It is not clear whether the Reporter properly notified Scottish Ministers of SEPA’s objection to the application.

“I have strongly suggested to the Reporter that he should now refuse the appeal.”

With the consultation deadline passed, named consultees have 14 days to respond to each other's comments prior to a final decision.

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