Decision to protect mansion backed by Scottish Government

The Scottish Government has backed a bid by councillors to safeguard a derelict Fife mansion house.

Officers have thrown out an appeal by developer Muir Homes against a ruling which prevents them from building homes in the grounds of Leslie House without restoring the landmark building.

Muir, which wants to build 28 luxury houses, had asked for a clause within the planning consent tying the sale of homes to the restoration of the 17thCentury building to be removed.

Members of Fife Council’s central planning committee rejected the request in June 2017, against their own planning officers’ advice.

Nick Smith, the reporter appointed by Scottish ministers to oversee the case, this week refused the appeal as well as a separate bid calling for Fife Council to pay damages amid claims by Muir Homes councillors had acted in an “unreasonable manner”.

Councillor Neil Crooks, planning committee convener, welcomed the reporter’s decision. “Seldom has this committee been asked to decide on an issue of such a complex and difficult nature,” he said.

“Now the Scottish Government has backed our judgment. We were right and I wholeheartedly commend the work of members in dealing with such a difficult case.”

The grade-A listed Leslie House was ravaged by fire in 2009 and estimates suggest it would cost around £5 million to bring it back into use.

The move is the latest twist in a long-running saga stretching back more than 10 years where number of attempts to restore the house, once home to the Earl of Rothes, have come to nothing.