THE 'Fifepods' scheme will not be extended to provide accommodation for workers building Royal Navy frigates.

That's because plans to allow the majority of temporary accommodation pods on Castle Road to remain until the summer of 2021 have been refused.

Permission was granted originally by Scottish ministers in 2014 to build digs for workers specifically for two aircraft carriers and the Queensferry Crossing projects.

Fife Council planners said they "remained unconvinced" that the frigates project was of the same national significance and to continue the temporary accommodation was unjustified.

Most of the temporary pods will have to be removed at Castle Road, although seven of them have been allowed to remain at another part of the site situated at MacGrigor and Globe Road, but their lifespan has only been extended until June 2021.

A council officer said: "The applicant's October 2019 supporting statement makes the case that the recently-awarded frigate contract to Babcock is a nationally-significant development which generates a demand for temporary accommodation that can be met by the Fifepods.

"The applicant was invited to provide further clarity on this point.

"Fife Council officers were unconvinced that the frigate contract has the same status as the Queensferry Crossing.

"With the Queensferry Crossing in place, there is not the same abnormal demand from two once-in-a-generation projects taking place at the same time.

"The works the applicant describes to justify this latest extension sounds like the general day-to-day business of a busy port.

"Whilst there may be times of high demand where pressures for short-term accommodation are high, this does not justify a continuous presence of temporary accommodation on this site.

"The frigate contract, whilst a significant contract, does not create the same temporary demand and pressures on the area that were apparent in 2013 when the area faced dealing with two significant constructions projects at the same time.

"The proposal, by virtue of its design, does not make a positive contribution to the quality of the place in this location, all contrary to FIFEplan."

The controversial pods scheme split local opinion at the time with opponents arguing that it would devalue their property and potentially cause anti-social behaviour.

Councillors rejected the plans twice but the decision was overturned on appeal by a Scottish Government reporter.

Back in September, the UK Government announced Babcock International as the preferred bidder for the £1.25 billion contract for five Royal Navy Type 31 frigates.

These ships will be assembled at Rosyth Dockyard securing what is reported to be “hundreds of jobs”.

Work is expected to be ongoing until 2023.

A small number of pods will be allowed to stay because they're in a different location to the accommodation.

A council officer said: "The site in this application differs from that subject to the other two applications.

"Firstly, the site is in a different location and one which relates more to Dockyard Digs which benefits from planning permission for flats.

"The application site is within the red line boundary of the 2008 consent. Secondly, the site is much smaller than the other two combined and is screened effectively from public view, reducing its visual impact.

"They are visually discrete, within the settlement boundary consistent with the prevailing pattern of development within its vicinity and acceptable in terms of other impacts on the environment and amenity of the area."

Applicants Capital and Provincial (Rosyth) Limited have stated previously they are exploring the feasibility of developing the site for permanent residential development.