Designed by DO Architecture The proposal for Southfield Industrial Estate includes memorial gardens, 193 parking spaces and vehicular access.

Respect Developments said the project could create 120 jobs, including 80 apprenticeships.

Fife planning officers recommended refusal as Southfield Industrial Estate is zoned for employment use. They said a crematorium did not meet development plan requirements.

And members of Fife Council’s west and central planning committee ruled the facility was planned for the wrong location.

A government reporter has now overruled the decision by Fife councillors, stating there was no justification for refusal.

Respect Developments director Steven Mcghee insisted the decision is a positive one.

“It’s a good idea,” he said. “I know it doesn’t have 100% support but I’m hopeful it will be good for the area.

“We’ll be a quiet neighbour. And the skills academy in particular will be good for local young people.”

Mr Mcghee said no timescales have been set for starting building work or opening the facilities.

“There’s a lot of funding to be put in place and we’re working towards that now,” he added.

“We will make sure we speak to residents living round about.

“We want to work with them in the future as we’re not here to cause problems.”

DO Architecture said of the project: “Situated along the southern periphery of a wooded site, the construction campus pairs a construction skills academy with a timber frame factory and company headquarters. The new construction campus aims to deliver training alongside an active production line making new affordable homes for Fife. The wider campus joins the proposed new crematorium to the north and is mediated by a designed memorial landscape in between.

“Collectively the construction campus and crematorium work complement one another in energy sharing via a district heating network. The two sites are connected via a new planted landscape that will emerge and mature along the connecting eastern edge of the site.”