Town awaits details of development plan

The Courier, 20 September 2002

Proposals for a multi-million pound mixed-use development in St Andrews - one of the largest and most ambitious projects in the town’s history - are expected to be submitted to Fife Council planners within a matter of weeks.

Behind the massive plans for the west side of St Andrews are the locally-based company of Headon Developments and St Andrews University, and other parties are also understood to be involved.

The news that a planning application is almost ready to be lodged ends months of speculation in the town over the sheer scale of the development, already being regarded as the biggest extension of St Andrews in living memory.

A spokesperson for Headon Developments confirmed that they are now expecting to lodge their planning application for the mixed-use development within weeks.

The application is being flnalised upon the basis of environmental, landscape, transportation, economic and ecology assessments, which have all been commissioned.

The spokesperson added, “The plans include land for future university expansion, economic development, housing covering the full range of tenures, with provision for associated educational, health-care and recreation uses.”

The proposals also include a distributor relief road, which is intended to link the main A91 St Andrews to Cupar road to Craigtoun Road on the western approaches to the town. It is being aimed at reducing congestion in the town centre, a major source of concern over recent years.

Additionally, the proposal will include two 18-hole golf courses on land at Northbank and Strathtyrum, which are aimed at satisfying the increased demand for golf in St Andrews from the local community and beyond.

The spokesperson continued, “The plans allow St Andrews to plan for long-term growth and development, providing solutions to many of the difficulties currently being experienced in the housing market, education, healthcare, economic development and infrastructure.” She added that final details will be made available once the application has been lodged.

It is believed that between 900 and 1000 houses are being envisaged, along with a science research centre and other long-term projects for the university.

However, it has already been stressed that the proposals could take many decades to develop. Fife Council say there is no requirement for additional housing in St Andrews for at least 10 years.

St Andrews University Court has also made it clear that the main interest in putting forward the proposal is the preservation of a land bank for long-term development.