PLANS for 59 new homes next to Townhill Country Park have been approved by Fife Council.

The west and central planning committee gave permission to Lochay Homes to develop around four hectares of former agricultural land.

The plot is immediately to the north of Kent Street in Dunfermline and borders the country park and Townhill Road.

Dunfermline North councillor Gordon Pryde said the development was "quite pleasing" as it included bungalows but did raise concerns about flooding.

He said: "In that north east corner there is a long-standing flooding issue.

"The report (to the committee) is quite correct, the housing is outwith this area where the flooding arises but in the overall development there's a flooding issue in the north east corner which is to be green space."

Officers had said it would be "prudent" at the time the site is being developed to assess its condition by CCTV or otherwise, and to make good any problem areas.

Cllr Pryde said that should be a planning condition and the committee agreed.

Part of the deal will also see Lochay Homes pay around £600,000 to the council in developer contributions.

That will include more than £360,000 to help alleviate capacity issues in local schools, £229,276 for transport improvements and a contribution towards the upgrade of the Whitefield Road / Halbeath Road / Linburn Road junction and Halbeath Road improvements.

The sums of money to be paid will be set out in a legal agreement.

Lochay Homes are not the first company to submit plans for the site, which is mostly grassland and contains an electricity pylon.

Back in 2019 Mactaggart & Mickel, the Glasgow-based developers who are preparing land for a Lidl store in Rosyth, had proposals to build 92 homes on the Townhill site refused by the council.

The decision was overturned on appeal to the Scottish Government the following year but work never started.

Lochay will build a new access road from Townhill Road and their development will include open space, a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS basin) and landscaping.

Of the 59 new homes, 16 will be 'affordable' homes for social rent.

Most of the properties would be two storey, semi-detached homes but there will also be 15 bungalows, terraced homes and two storey cottage flats.