THERE are plans to build 40 new affordable homes on farmland to the west of Saline.

Stanley Brash Construction Ltd, of Peebles, have applied for permission from Fife Council to develop 1.6 hectares to the south of West Road.

There would be 15 family houses and 25 bungalows for older people and assisted living, with one of the bungalows to be used as a community hub.

A report by AMP Architects, on behalf of the applicant, said: "It is crucial to note that the entire site has been moved to the east by 15 metres when comparing this to the pre-development planning enquiry.

"This is due to the neighbouring Forties pipeline running north/south to the west of our site.

"There are prescribed blast exclusion zones set by the Health and Safety Executive.

"To ensure this development meets those obligations, we have moved the whole affordable housing site 15m to the east, outwith the exclusion zone.

"Currently, only a small part of two dwellings lie within the middle exclusion zone, and less than nine per cent of the proposed site area sits within the middle exclusion zone."

In the council's development plan, the land is zoned for housing with a recommended capacity of 130 homes, a quarter of which should be affordable homes.

This application deals with the affordable homes element.

There would be 67 parking spaces in total, with 10 of them set aside for visitors.

Owned and operated by Ineos, the Forties pipeline system brings crude oil and gas liquids from the North Sea onshore at Cruden Bay, near Aberdeen.

From there, the liquids are pumped to the processing facility at Grangemouth.