CONTENTIOUS plans for 100 homes on  agricultural land in Cairneyhill have been approved by Fife Council.

Avant Homes' application to develop 13 hectares south of Pitdinnie Farm attracted 82 objections, including those from Cairneyhill Residents Association and Muir Homes.

There were major concerns about flooding, increased traffic, the effect on the primary school and impact of the development on local residents but the west planning committee backed council officers, who recommended approval.

A report from council planner William Shand concluded: "The general layout of the site is acceptable and the detailing within the proposal including the high degree of landscaping, boundary treatment and finishes would create a residential area with a strong sense of place."

Avant, who have partnered with Robert Forrester from the Forrester Park Golf Resort, had already received planning permission in principle for up to 100 homes in August 2015. There were more than 200 objections at that stage.

A legal agreement was then reached last July which stated that 25 per cent of the units would be affordable homes.

Avant, based in Stirling, agreed to pay £135,000 to the council's transport fund and £90,000 towards the estimated £126,000 cost of a MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) near the primary school.

They will also provide a playpark, construct Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to the east of Pitdinnie Road and instal flood attenuation measures.

The application passed by the committee on Wednesday gave details on the development and the type of housing.

The housing mix includes one-to five-bedroom homes, bungalows, detached, semi-detached, terraced and cottage flat properties. There will be new trees, hedges and shrubs, open space, landscaping and footpaths.

Two access roads to the new estate will come from Pitdinnie Road which will itself be upgraded and widened while its junction with Main Street will be improved.

A link connecting the new homes with Drummormie Road will be for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency/bus vehicles only.

Construction traffic will access the site via Pitdinnie Road but the council report added "there is a need for a temporary access to be created from Rose Gardens for a temporary period of around four to five weeks".

Among other concerns were the risk to children on their way to and from school due to increased traffic, inadequate upgrade proposals for Pitdinnie Road, increased congestion on Main Street, the 'rat run' link to Drummormie Road and the impact of construction traffic.

There was also opposition to the loss of agricultural land, the number of houses, noise and disturbance, the impact on wildlife and loss of views.

One of the major worries was that the development would make the village's flooding problems worse.

However, the report to councillors said: "It is not considered that the development would result in a significant additional flood risk while the proposed flood attenuation system could provide some betterment for an existing risk."

It added that "if any doubts had been raised by either of the drainage consultees that this proposal would have a possibility of causing a flood risk then it is unlikely that the proposal would be supported".