Developers say link road’s environmental impact will be limited

Details have emerged of the new link road proposed for St Andrews, as an early step in its planning process was taken.

If given the green light the road to serve the St Andrews West expansion would run just over half a mile from a roundabout at the A91 to Craigtoun Road.

Continuing south it would run through an existing tree plantation and grassland at the North Haugh onto cropped land at Langlands.

As well as serving more than 1,000 new homes and university facilities proposed, it would provide access to the new Madras College, if it is built as intended at Langlands.

A screening request has been lodged with Fife Council by development consortium St Andrews West LLP, so that it can be determined whether an environmental impact assessment will be required as part of its planning application.

A statement submitted by the group’s consultant Wardrop Strategic Planning said: “The proposed road and roundabout form a key part of the wider St Andrews West development where a requirement for a link road between the A91 and Craigtoun Road is identified.”

According to the firm the land to be used for the road is not within or beside an area considered sensitive under environmental impact assessment legislation.

It said: “It is submitted that the proposed development, which lies within the town’s settlement boundary and predominantly within the boundary of the St Andrews West strategic development area, will be of relatively modest scale.

“The scale of the development means that it can be considered that the proposals will have limited environmental impact.

“The existing land use will be permanently changed, however, this again will not result in a significant environmental impact.”

Planning applications for the road, St Andrews West and the new school, which would sit within the strategic development area, are expected in September.