Plans have been lodged for around 1,400 homes in Halbeath as part of a large mixed-use development across Fife.

Taylor Wimpey East Scotland has submitted two applications for Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) together with the necessary technical assessments for each application for the site forming part of the North Dunfermline Strategic Development Area (SDA), allocated in FIFEplan as proposal DUN 043.

One application is for the entire site and the other is for the initial phase one of the development. As part of the SDA, a Northern Link Road (NLR) (Proposal DUN 067) is required within the site and this has been incorporated into Taylor Wimpey’s development proposals.

The proposed NLR would run from north west to south east where it will link to a new railway bridge provided by Fife Council. There would also be a provision of 25% affordable housing and this equates to around 350 new affordable homes across the whole site.

The full site extends to almost 80 ha and the proposal is for a mixed-use development comprising around 1,400 new homes with a community core which includes plans for a central open space area along with a community hub which comprises a new primary school as well as land for economic development and community uses including retail. The proposed site will sit within a landscape framework that will offer a mix of amenity open spaces, woodlands, hedgerows and meadows.

The Phase 1 application area extends to just over 17ha and is located on the west side of the site. The proposal is for a residential development of around 340 new homes including around 85 affordable homes and will deliver the initial phase of Fife Council’s NLR and the landscape framework associated with this area of the site.

Both applications are the culmination of over 12 months of work by Taylor Wimpey East Scotland’s project team in consultation with the local community and Fife Council.

Pauline Mills, land and planning director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, said the submission of these applications is an important step in the process.

Pauline added: “Our Planning Application in Principle submissions mark a significant milestone in the process to securing formal planning approval for our development proposals that will establish the framework for future detailed housing and non-residential planning applications.

“We will continue to liaise with Fife Council and the wider community via the Community Liaison Forum that we’ve established for this project throughout the determination process. Whilst we are unable to confirm at this stage when these applications will be determined by Fife Council, we are hopeful that we will receive a decision by the end of this year.

“As well as an impressive range of new homes, our development would provide a range of economic benefits for the local area which includes supporting over 160 jobs per year of construction, as well as the attraction of new customers to local businesses and we remain fully committed to bringing forward a development masterplan that will positively transform this area of North Dunfermline.”