A DEVELOPER has withdrawn plan for 156 new homes in Cairneyhill - and revealed their intention to build even more properties.

Avant Homes had been seeking permission to build the houses at their site west of Pitdinnie Road however the process has proved slow and no decision has been made since plans were first lodged three years ago.

A total of 100 homes have already been built at Pitdinnie Grange and the withdrawn application would have been phase two on the site.

Confirming the original plans had been shelved, a spokesperson for Avant Homes said this did not mean they were pulling out of the development.

“We submitted a new planning application on May 22 for the same proposed development site on Pitdinnie Road in Cairneyhill to build 256 of our practically designed, energy efficient homes," she said.

READ MORE: Residents to have their say as developers hold consultations in Cairneyhill

“This is an increase of 100 homes from our original application and we now look forward to Fife Council considering our revised plans to provide much needed now homes for the area.”

When the originals plans were lodged, concerns were raised that the village would not be able to cope with the second phase of development.

An objection from the Cairneyhill Community Council listed fears about road safety and traffic volume and about potential increased risk of flooding as a result of the development.

“Flood management and flooding in an area classed as a potentially vulnerable area is a major concern to all residents,” the objection letter stated.

The letter added: “If Fife Council still considers that provision of more housing in Cairneyhill is imperative then the upgrading of the village’s flood prevention scheme and related measures must be expedited on a scale to match that imperative.”

In the three years since Avant submitted their plans, the council's planning department delayed a decision time and again - issuing 11 extension of time requests.  

Each extension regretted to inform the developers that “it will not be possible to determine the application within the statutory four month period or any extended period that has already been agreed”.