Scottish Ministers Approve Affordable Housing in Dalgety Bay
1 May 2008
The first ever significant delivery of affordable housing in Dalgety Bay in Fife has been given planning consent. Scottish Ministers approved the plan, which will deliver around 80 homes, a quarter of which will be affordable, following a lengthy planning inquiry into Fife Council’s refusal of developer CALA’s proposal to release brownfield land for residential use.
The provision of affordable housing is seen as one of the most significant challenges facing local government.
The site, at Donibristle and Hillend Industrial Estate in Dalgety Bay, and the industrial property which sits upon it have lain unused for around seven years. Fife Council strongly opposed its development for residential use.
Ryden planning partner David Tough advised CALA throughout the negotiations. He said: “We used an analytical approach when presenting our case and demonstrated the huge need for affordable housing in the area alongside the lack of demand for the site for employment use. These points and our in-depth research were central to our case.”
The firm proved that there is sufficient employment land supply in Dalgety Bay to fulfil future commercial requirements and satisfied the inquiry Reporter who found all major points in favour of CALA’s case. Ryden also negotiated a developer contribution for the industrial estate’s improvement and provided expert witness evidence to the enquiry.
Ryden has advised several clients through the process of realising asset value often locked in industrial land.
