PLANS to convert the ground floor of a former Kelty pub into accommodation for up to 14 people have been approved by Fife Council.

King Enterprises, owned by businessman Asif Hussein, got the green light for a change of use for the Lindsay Tavern on Main Street.

Permission had been granted in December 2019 to turn the ground floor of the pub into a restaurant, which will now be converted into eight bedrooms and a communal space.

It will then be used as a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The plans suggest there will be six double rooms and two single rooms.

The upper two floors of the property have already been turned into an eight-bed HMO, with consent given back in May 2018.

There were three objections with concern that "accommodation is for people newly out of prison, a half-way house type of place".

They added: "The premises are very close to a primary school where a lot of children regularly walk alone. There are also a lot of vulnerable elderly people who live around the area.

"There would also be the worry of anti-social behaviour from such a large number of people sharing a single dwelling."

However, a council officer responded: "The background of the occupants of the premises and any propensity for crime and anti-social behaviour is not a material consideration in planning law and cannot be taken into account in reaching a decision."

Parking issues were also raised and one of the conditions is that 13 parking spaces must be provided before the HMO can open.

The council report added: "Three representations in support have been received, one appearing to be from the applicant, and one supporting on the basis that the proposals would avoid the premises falling into decay."

And it concluded: "It is not considered that use of the subjects as an HMO would give rise to detrimental impacts on the amenity of third-party property of any more significance than arising from a continued use of the premises as a restaurant, whether in terms of noise and other nuisances, traffic movements, privacy, or otherwise.

"Indeed, it seems likely that impacts on residential amenity would be reduced."