Reasons for refusing amended outline planning application - 99/00988/EOPP

Fife Council, in exercise of its powers under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 REFUSES OUTLINE PLANNING PERMISSION for the particulars specified below:

APPLICATION REFERENCE: 99/00988/E0PP

PARTICULARS OF DEVELOPMENT: Outline planning permission - 2 golf courses, clubhouse, residential lodges, and car parking (amended scheme)

SITE LOCATION: Scooniehill Farm St Andrews Fife KY16 8NN

Reason(s):

1. The proposed development is considered to be contrary to the terms of the development plan policy as set out in both the Fife Structure Plan and the St Andrews Area Local Plan with particular regard to:

• development in the countryside;

• development within a designated Area of Great Landscape Value;

• loss of prime agricultural land;

• key strategy statements relating to the strategy for development in the St Andrews area and to protection of assets important to the tourist industry.

2. The proposed development is considered to be premature pending the consideration by Fife Council in the current Consultative Structure Plan of a green belt for St Andrews.

3. The proposed development would have an adverse effect on the Area of Great Landscape Value and would lead to a suburbanisation of the countryside.

4. In the interests of road safety; the proposed development would generate an unacceptable level of traffic on to the public roads and would lead to a harmful impact on the restricted road system within St Andrews.

5. In the interests of road safety; the development would generate an unacceptable level of construction traffic on to the public roads.

6. The proposed development by reason of its size and position would have an adverse effect on the landscape setting of St Andrews.

7. The proposed development, being a private golfing facility would be contrary to this Council’s Planning Guidelines for Golf Courses and Associated Development in that there would be no pay and play element.

8. The proposed development would have an adverse effect on the environment.

Dated:12th June 2000

For Head of Planning Fife Council

Reasons for refusing original outline planning application - 08980051D

OUR REF 08980051D
CONTACT NICK BRIAN, 412780
DATE 13/ 7/99

Dear Sir/Madam,

OPP-2 GOLF COURSES,CLUBHSE/LEISURE/RSDNTL FACS,GOLF ACADEMY,SCOONIEHILL FARM, BY ST ANDREWS,FIFE

I refer to your letter in respect of the above planning application.

Your letter was placed before the Area Development Committee when the application was considered. I can now advise you that the Committee has refused permission, subject to the reasons as shown below.

I would remind you though, that the applicant has the right to appeal to the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 33 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, if he/she is unhappy about this refusal.

Furthermore, subsequent applications may be made which will be considered by the Area Development Committee on their individual merits.

Yours faithfully,

Area Planning Manager (East)

REASONS:

1 The proposed development is considered to be contrary to the terms of the development plan policy as set out in both the Fife Structure Plan and the St Andrews Area Local Plan with particular regard to -

development in the countryside, development within a designated Area of Great Landscape Value, loss of prime agricultural land, and key strategy statements relating to the strategy for development in the St Andrews area and to protection of assets important to the tourist industry.

2 Although the application is for outline planning permission, the supporting information and suggested layouts for the golf courses and built development would have a serious adverse effect on the integrity of the Open Coastal Hills landscape character type which has a limited capacity for change. In particular, this would be brought about by pronounced changes to the prominent landscape feature of Wester Balrymonth Hill, the main landform on the slopes forming the southern setting of St Andrews and by changes to the settlement pattern and other buildings in the landscape.

3 The proposed development would have serious visual impacts on the Area of Great Landscape Value which cannot be reduced without major reduction/relocation of part of the course and the built development. In particular, the addition of a village-like settlement located on an elevated position would be out of character with the landscape surroundings.

4 In terms of the proposed golf course design the suggestion of a ‘rough upland’ landscape would be inappropriate and misjudges the landscape character of the area.

5 The proposed development is considered to be premature pending the consideration by Fife Council in the current Structure Plan Review of a green belt for St Andrews.