PLANS to build 246 homes next to Masterton Primary School have been lodged with Fife Council.

Miller Homes wants to develop land at Dover Heights, next to Lapwing Drive in Dunfermline, but concerns have already been raised about the impact on education.

If given the go-ahead, it would mean 452 new houses will be built in the catchment area of Masterton, which already has capacity problems, and the developer would be expected to contribute towards a £1.9 million, two-classroom extension.

Taylor Wimpey already have permission for 206 homes on two nearby sites and agreed to pay money towards alleviating capacity risks.

Miller Homes held a public exhibition and said the only negative feedback related to the impact on spaces at schools.

Their planning statement said: “Comments provided considered that this lack of infrastructure provision for the area, with school capacity issues being recently highlighted, was an issue for Fife Council to address.”

The plans include 185 private houses and 61 affordable homes. Open spaces would be provided with an equipped play area and associated landscaping.

At the north-west boundary, the site is a stone’s throw from Masterton, which is at the centre of a dispute about catchment areas.

Changes are needed due to Woodmill High’s capacity problems – it’s now full – but the council education department’s proposal to send Masterton pupils to Inverkeithing, instead of Dunfermline High, was rejected by councillors.

Miller Homes’ statement said: “It is worth noting that the issue of education capacity for both primary and secondary schools in the catchment area was very much at the forefront in the minds of those attending the first public exhibition event when the opportunity arose for local residents and their representatives to comment on the initial application proposals.

“The detailed development proposals were a secondary issue for the majority and the concerns regarding pressure of more housing on capacity of the local schools and their ability to cope with more pupils were focused towards Fife Council rather than the applicant.

“There was a recognition that new houses had to be built but that Fife Council was not keeping up with the demand and providing the necessary level of education provision not just in Dunfermline, but Fife-wide where there were recognised school capacity issues.”

If approved, public art would be included which would comprise four stone cairns depicting information on “Inverkeithing Battlefield II”.