Green light for historic town’s building project

Milestone reached as council agrees to phased St Andrews development

Plans for a major expansion St Andrews have been approved councillors.

The scheme involves around 900 new homes, a business park and shops, forming part of the St Andrews West Strategic Development Area, which includes the new Madras College currently being built at Langands, and the new link road.

The development will cover swathes of agricultural land south of the Swilken Burn and on both sides of Strathkinness High Road and is likely to take several years to complete in a series of phases.

Subject to planning applications being approved, a field north west of Andrew Melville Hall is targeted for work in the early stages. The area has been zoned of by for employment land and for use by St Andrews University.

A report before Fife Council’s north east planning committee said the developers believed a year was enough time for uncertainty around Covid-19 to “dissipate somewhat” and allow them to market the site.

Councillors approved the application despite objections from Hepburn Gardens Area Residents Association, the Confederation of St Andrews Residents Associations and St Andrews Community Council.

Concerns included the size of a path for cyclists and pedestrians, which would link the development to Doubledykes Road via Hepburn Gardens, as well as the potential loss of hedgerows and trees.

Royal Collection Trust curator Caroline de Guitut looks at Princess Beatrice’s wedding dress which will go on public display at Windsor Castle. The Sir Norman Hartnell gown, first worn by the Queen in the 1960s, was loaned to Beatrice by her grandmother for her secret, low-key wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July.

Picture: PA.