Plans for holiday park extension near St Andrews rejected by councillors
A proposal for a £20m extension of a holiday park near St Andrews, which would almost double the accommodation available, has been rejected with one councillor expressing concerns the area could turn into a “kind of Butlins.”
Over 50 objections had been received to Gleneagles Holiday Park Ltd’s planning application seeking permission to change the use of agricultural land at the Stewart Resorts Holiday Park at Cameron.
It had been hoped that up to 216 static (lodge style) caravan pitches could be created with associated infrastructure including internal roads and landscaping.
The site has previously been developed in three separate phases and currently has 213 static holiday pitches, 35 permanent living retirement static pitches as well as a hub building with bar/restaurant, retail, leisure facilities and reception area.
A report considered by members of Fife Council’s North East Planning Committee said an economic statement had explained that a capital investment of approximately £20m was anticipated along with the creation of 14 full time jobs.
A total of 51 objections – including one from Cameron Community Council – were submitted to Fife Council while 21 letters of support were also received.
Objectors said north-east Fife was already saturated with caravan developments and raised concerns about landscape impact, traffic, flooding, drainage, biodiversity and the nearby Cameron Reservoir, which is designated as a Special Protection Area, Ramsar site and Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Planner Scott Simpson said detailed environmental assessments had concluded there would be “no significant adverse impacts” provided mitigation measures were implemented.
Recommending the application for approval, his report said the proposals were acceptable as it was an extension of an existing established tourism development.
However, Howe of Fife and Tay Coast councillor David MacDiarmid was unconvinced.
“Do we know if there is a need for 1,543 caravans around St Andrews including 216?” he asked.
“I am concerned we are going to turn St Andrews or the surrounding St Andrews area into a kind of Butlins and I am not sure if we need that.”
East Neuk and Landward councillor Alycia Hayes put forward an amendment to refuse the plans on the grounds of overdevelopment.
“I have listened to everything that the officers have had to say but I keep coming back regardless to that little phrase that Shakespeare wrote, ‘to thine own self be true’ and I feel that I cannot fundamentally support this application,” she said.
“The scale and extent of the proposed phase four expansion would represent excessive intensification of development in this countryside location.”
Councillors voted by nine votes to two to refuse the planning application.