Fife Council turned down the application submitted by Stewart Milne Group in September 2018 on the grounds that the site to the west of Cairneyhill Road lay outside of any defined settlement boundary, was not allocated for housing and was in the countryside.

The council also refused the application due to concerns of flooding risks, with council planners taking note of 139 objection letters covering various issues surrounding the site.

However, Rob Huntley, the Scottish Government reporter handling the appeal, has overturned that decision and approved the plans for the development, The Courier reports.

Mr Huntley has granted permission for the application, as long as the developers arranged with Fife Council to provide affordable housing within the site and make financial contributions towards primary and secondary education capacity. He stated that as long as these conditions were met, there was no reason for the rejection of the application.

However, the conditions of consent emphasise that no development will be permitted until an “enforceable mechanism” has been implemented to secure the provision of a surface water outfall to the Torry Burn, and that no more than 49 houses shall be occupied until a number of highway and transport improvements have been carried out. Such improvements include junction upgrades, new bus stops, pedestrian and cycle links and a second vehicle access to the site.