DEVELOPERS Taylor Wimpey plan to put in a fresh application to build on a controversial plot in Inverkeithing – with the revised proposal taking in an even bigger slice of the site.

Just two months after the Scottish Reporter threw out their appeal to build up to 450 houses at Spencerfield, Taylor Wimpey have submitted a proposal of application notice (PAN) for a residential development at the same site.

This gives the firm 12 weeks to submit a detailed application and Taylor Wimpey can do so after 5th December.

Under the new proposal, the site has been extended to the western edge of Spencerfield, up to the southern end of Spencerfield Road and the path bordering the north side of Prestonhill Quarry.

Taylor Wimpey will now hold a pre-application public event at Inverkeithing Civic Centre on Thursday 13th November from 3-8pm for residents to give feedback.

Strategic land manager Andrew Roberts said “Following the recent disappointing decisions of our planning appeals for this site, we have comprehensively reviewed the matters raised by the appeals.

“Having completed this process, we have now revised our proposals for Spencerfield in Inverkeithing by reducing the number of houses proposed and the amount of land to be developed.

“We welcome the opportunity to consult with the local community in Inverkeithing, and we are now able to bring forward our revised proposals back to the community for their consideration and comment.

“We view this consultation as a key part of delivering a development that brings an overall positive benefit to the wider community.

“We are hoping that there is good turnout at this event and we look forward to meeting with the public; both to hear what they have to say and to tell them more about how our proposals have been revised.” Last year, West Fife councillors unanimously refused Taylor Wimpey’s application to build up to 450 homes at Spencerfield, the plans having already been knocked back by the west planning committee and recommended for refusal by planners.

However, Taylor Wimpey lodged an appeal – which was not upheld by the Scottish Reporter, who concluded that the plans “would “harm the character of the countryside in conflict with the adopted Local Plan and SESplan”.

At the time, Inverkeithing councillor Lesley Laird slammed the Scottish Government’s planning system as “far too much of a cherry-pick for developers”.

In September, Spencerfield was among eight controversial plots removed from the FIFEplan after councillors voted to take them off the table as proposed housing sites.

The FIFEplan consultation runs until December 8th, and this week Cllr Laird said, “One of the recommendations that was made was to remove the Spencerfield site from the FIFEplan.

“This was clearly a development that local people did not support, and neither did Dalgety Bay.

“If local people have views about the site, whether it’s for removal or reinstatement, they need to revoice and reiterate them during the consultation.”