A MASSIVE housing development between Halbeath and Kingseat came a step closer this week after two planning applications were lodged with Fife Council.

Taylor Wimpey want to build around 1,400 homes on an 80-hectare site north of Pleasance Road as well as a community hub which would include a new primary school.

As reported previously in the Press, local residents expressed concerns over the scale of the firm’s proposals.

Back in January last year when the plans were originally mooted, Gordon Harvey, vice-chairman of Halbeath Residents and Tenants Association, was worried such a large development would put extra strain on “already stretched” services and effectively merge Dunfermline and Kingseat.

“We’re already seeing services such as hospitals, doctors and dentists being stretched and whether this new primary school would be enough, we don’t know,” he said.

“It’s not just that, but the high schools and other services too.

“Is this the right size of development for a town of this size? It’s a significant increase.”

Developers Taylor Wimpey East Scotland have this week submitted two applications for Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) for the site, which forms part of the North Dunfermline Strategic Development Area.

One application is for the entire site and the other is for the initial phase one of the development.

They include the provision of a northern link road which would run from north-west to south-east and link to a new bridge over the railway provided by Fife Council.

There will also be a provision of 25 per cent of affordable housing – around 350 homes – across the whole site.

As well as the new primary school, the proposals for the community core include a central open space area and for economic development and community uses including retail. 

If given the green light, the first phase, which incorporates just over 17 hectares and is located on the west side of the site, will include 340 new homes.

Taylor Wimpey East Scotland’s land and planning director, Pauline Mills, said: “Our Planning Application in Principle submissions mark a significant milestone in the process to securing formal planning approval for our development proposals that will establish the framework for future detailed housing and non-residential planning applications.

“We will continue to liaise with Fife Council and the wider community via the Community Liaison Forum that we’ve established for this project throughout the determination process. 

“As well as an impressive range of new homes, our development would provide a range of economic benefits for the local area which includes supporting over 160 jobs per year of construction.”