THE developer of eight new homes in Pattiesmuir was taken aback by the "significant local resistance and obstacles placed in their way".

The agent for Premier Homes, who are building in the hamlet to the west of Rosyth, said residents had also tried to "derail the marketing campaign".

The accusations are in a planning statement to Fife Council as the firm is seeking to change one of the planning conditions relating to road safety.

Dunfermline Press: An image of what the new development in Pattiesmuir should look like.An image of what the new development in Pattiesmuir should look like. (Image: Premier Homes)

Two of the homes have been completed and Neil Gray, of Gray Planning and Development, wrote: "With the significant personal and commercial challenges the developer has faced keeping residents from attempting to derail the marketing campaign, this prospective sale of the first and second plots at Pattiesmuir is clearly welcome relief for the developer.

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"Not only is this a milestone, it is a process which would enable the developer to invest into the further progression of development of site and to install the requirements of the approved scheme."

Full planning permission for eight houses was approved in June 2017 - the applicant then was the Broomhall Home Farm Partnership - despite 28 objections, including one from the community council.

Premier Homes later took over and the council said there had been a number of "minor" alterations to the proposals.

A previous amendment to the conditions, to do with drainage provision for existing homes in the conservation area, was granted in December 2021 despite 17 letters of objection, with concerns including a lack of consultation, flooding and, in general, the negative impact of new homes on Pattiesmuir and the existing residents.

Premier Homes started work on site in 2022.

The condition in question states that, before any new homes are occupied, visibility splays must be provided and maintained on each side of the access to the A985 trunk road.

Dunfermline Press: A planning condition imposed by Fife Council states that the junction with the A985 must be improved before any of the new homes in Pattiesmuir are occupied.A planning condition imposed by Fife Council states that the junction with the A985 must be improved before any of the new homes in Pattiesmuir are occupied. (Image: Google Maps)

It's for road safety purposes, to make it easier for vehicles to get in and out of the hamlet, and the firm have asked for the wording to be changed to 'before the third home' is occupied.

There is already one objection.

Mr Gray's planning statement said there were two notes of interest and at "plot 8 in particular the buyer is to conclude missives immediately".

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And he argued that the condition was "unreasonable" as it prevented any occupation of a dwelling when there are buyers waiting to move in.

Since the previous plans were approved, Mr Gray said a community facility called 'the College Club' had closed and there was a "considerable" reduction in parking need and traffic moving in and out of Pattiesmuir.

He continued: "There has also been a change of circumstances with the developer, who did not anticipate the significant local resistance and obstacles (both legal and financial) placed in their way which has caused severe constraints on cash flow and therefore unintended and unforeseen changes to work programmes and methods.

"The best scenario of building and completing all building works in a linear fashion has not been possible.

"The advent of willing buyers for plots 7 and 8 has induced the developer to progress these properties to completion ready for occupation."

Mr Gray said Premier Homes was not "shirking away" from the requirement to improve the A985 junction and added that some short term flexibility would allow the "developer to navigate through a difficult period".