Town’s residents fear being ignored over massive housing plan

People worried despite invitation to builder’s drop-in to discuss proposals

Residents fear Newburgh people will be ignored as potentially hundreds of new homes could be built on the town’s eastern boundary.

Perth-based A&J Stephen is to consult on its proposal for a mixed used development including housing on fields on either side of Cupar Road.

Fife Council has zoned 11.6 hectares of land for around 275 houses, employment land and extensions to the primary school and cemetery, despite concerns about the impact on local services and infrastructure.

Details of A&J Stephen’s plans have yet to emerge but the firm has lodged a proposal of application notice with the local authority and is to hold a drop-in session for local residents next Wednesday in Tayside Institute Community Centre.

David Mathieson, who led the Newburgh Sustainable Housing Campaign, which fought the inclusion of the two sites in Fife’s local development plan, fears the community will have no say.

He said: “Does anyone really think, that A&J Stephen, builder... cares what our community has to say about its plan to increase the size of our town by about one third?”

Mr Mathieson claimed the developer had already refused two invitations to address people.

He said: “How can you trust anyone that has already been invited to a public meeting and to a community council meeting to discuss this issue, but declined to attend both?

“It preferred to invite us to its drop-in consultation event, where it decides the plan with no input from our community.”

He said Fife Council had already approved the designation of sites for 275 houses and plans for 40 houses on a steep hill at Banklands, despite objections locally and questioned the company’s claims there was public demand for more homes.

A spokeswoman for A&J Stephen said: “We are looking forward to hearing the views of the community on Wednesday October 4 and would encourage as many residents of the town to come along to our drop-in event at the Tayside Institute Community Centre between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

“Our proposals conform to the adopted development plan for Fife and will provide much-needed affordable housing for Newburgh.”

Our proposals... will provide muchneeded affordable housing for Newburgh. A&J STEPHEN

Picture: Steven Brown. David Mathieson and Alan Magnus-Bennet with Newburgh residents at the proposed site where 275 homes could be built, despite their objections.