A PROPOSED development of 900 new homes in Kelty is on the brink of collapse as talks to find a solution to the shortage of upfront cash to build a new £8 million plus primary school has failed to find any answers.

The owners of the site behind Cocklaw Street, I H Brown, have committed to paying for the new school but have always maintained they are not in a position to provide it, until the site begins to be developed and enough houses are built.

Fife Council, for their part, have stated that the existing schools are at full capacity and they would therefore require the school to be built very early into the development.

The issue was raised direct with the Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister Questions back in 2017 by Fife MSP, Alex Rowley, who has argued that a capital loan scheme needs to be established to front load such developments. Fife Council confirmed at that time that there were a number of major housing developments in Fife in a similar position.

Mr Rowley also wrote to the Minister for Local Government and Housing in early 2018, asking the Government to intervene and was told that the review of planning would address the issue.

Speaking to the Times Alex Rowley said this week: “The fact that at a time when we are desperate for new housing of all tenure, it is astonishing that this development is looking like it will not get off the ground.

"The Planning Bill that the Minister said would address the issue has not, indeed the Bill did very little for communities across Scotland and amendments to try and improve it were voted down again and again by Government loyalists who seem more interested in keeping their jobs than standing up for the communities they are meant to represent”.

The Labour MSP has now written to the First Minister and the Minister for Planning, Kevin Stewart, warning that this major housing development is at real risk of collapse unless a resolution can be found.

He continued: “It is not that the developer is refusing to pay for the new school from the profits of the development, it is simply that until the houses start to be built there will be no profit to get the money from”.

The MSP has also taken the matter up with Fife Council Chief Executive, Steve Grimmond, asking that he personally review the detail of the negotiations that have taken place to date between the council and the developer.

He concluded: “The Government keep telling me it is a matter for the council.

"Whilst I think the Government is failing in leadership and passing the buck, there are serious questions that Fife Council must answer and I do detect there is a lack of ambition and vision for Fife at the most senior levels within the local authority.

"Indeed, despite getting a commitment of funding and land for a new health centre from the developer the planners within Fife refused to build the commitment into a legal agreement. So it is no wonder they cannot see beyond the last policy report they wrote and have failed to find a solution for the school or made it an issue with the Government”.

Mr Rowley said the development had the potential for more council houses to be built, which, he said is “desperately needed in the Kelty Cowdenbeath area” as well as bringing jobs and skills opportunities for young people.

Fife Council's Pam Ewen, Planning Head of Service, said: "The planning application has been approved by the Planning Committee and discussions are ongoing to conclude the associated legal agreement."