PERSIMMON Homes have gone back to the drawing board and rescheduled a public meeting about their major housing development in Crossgates.

The firm are partners in a joint initiative with landowners Mr and Mrs David Orr, of Keirsbeath Farms Ltd, with proposals to build on a site between Old Perth Road and Manse Road that could take up to 200 new homes.

They outlined their plans at a public consultation event in July but a second event, due to take place this Friday (September 1), has "had to be changed".

Their planning consultant, John MacCallum, confirmed: "The applicants require some additional time to progress a development layout that will be meaningful for the purposes of further public consultation.

Central Fife Times: An aerial view of the site on the edge of Crossgates earmarked for development of up to 200 houses.An aerial view of the site on the edge of Crossgates earmarked for development of up to 200 houses. (Image: Google Maps)

"The second event will now be held on Friday October 13 in the same venue, Crossgates Community Centre, and at the same time of between 3pm and 7pm.

"However, this time it will be held in one of the smaller meeting rooms in the centre and not in the main hall."

Miller Homes were previously the preferred housebuilder but it was confirmed in May that they were "no longer involved" with the plans to develop 8.7 hectares of land at the northern edge of the village.

The site is primarily a grass field used for agriculture but also contains the existing farm complex, although not the farmhouse, of Mains of Beath Farm.

Miller's proposals were for 165 properties but Fife Council have, in their local development plan, said the site's estimated capacity is 200 houses.

It's not yet known how many new homes Persimmon want to build.

Maureen Cuthbertson, from Crossgates Community Council, previously said: "Every building company will have their own ideas but this is an opportunity to speak to them, maybe shape their plans and see what benefit there could be for the village.

"As with every housing development, you'll get people for it and against it."