D-DAY for Saline is approaching with a planning application to build 39 affordable homes in the village set to be determined.

Steven Garry, of Peebles, wants to develop a plot of land south of the B913 West Road but that's proving contentious with locals.

It's 1.6 hectares of farmland next to the Main Street car park and councillors on the West and Central planning committee will make their decision on Wednesday.

If approved, and council officers have recommended the plans should be, it would be the first of possibly three phases of development which could see up to 100 more homes built on an adjoining site.

However there are 10 objections with concerns including: road safety; loss of privacy; loss of agricultural land; the impact on school capacity, nearby listed properties, natural heritage and character of the village; flooding; parking; lack of a play park; disruption during construction; the impact on an underground pipeline; overshadowing and loss of light; increase in crime and anti-social behaviour; and loss of view.

Mr Garry is seeking consent for 15 two-storey family homes and 24 single storey bungalows – assisted living properties for older people – as well as a community hub, parking, drainage, infrastructure works and a new access road from the B913.

All properties would be equipped with air source heat pumps.

The site is greenfield but has been identified as suitable for housing in FIFEplan, the council's local development plan which says what can be built and where.

A wider area to the east and south, totalling 8.4 hectares, is also allocated for housing and it's understood the 39 affordable homes would be the first of three phases.

The land to the east and south would be developed at a later stage and the council estimate that around 130 homes could be built across the whole site.

The council report to the committee concludes: "This development represents an attractive modern development which would sit comfortably within the landscape and be part of the settlement of Saline.

"The design of the site and its edges have been handled appropriately to help it fit in with its countryside surroundings.

"No significant concerns are raised with regard to residential amenity, road safety or flooding / drainage impacts.

"Furthermore, no significant concerns have been raised with regard to land quality, impact on natural heritage, archaeology or the hazardous pipeline that runs along the western boundary of the site."