City planners have recommended approval of A&J Stephen’s application to build 55 houses at Gilliesfaulds West – and a proposed site layout for up to 113 more homes – ahead of the north-east Fife planning committee considering the issue tomorrow.

Fife councillors will be asked to give the plan the green light despite 11 letters of objection from concerned third parties.

With part of the site falling in the Cupar North strategic development area (SDA), the Cupar North Consortium has said that this development could undermine its plans for 1,400 houses. At the same time, several locals have criticised the phased approach to planning, describing any future applications as a “fait accompli” if this initial one is approved.

However, council planners have stressed that planning permission will be required for any further homes and that they will need to be gained through the usual application process.

The plans for the western Cupar gateway and to the south of the A91 envisages 168 homes with a mix and range of housing types, new employment land, open spaces and recreational areas and footpaths and cycle routes.

They also include the construction of a new roundabout on the A91, with a public art centrepiece. A spur is also to be provided from the roundabout to provide future access to the rest of the Cupar North SDA, The Courier reports.

Cupar Community Council has voiced its support for the plans. A spokesman said: “The community council agreed to support the application recognising the potential for an early delivery of affordable housing and transport links providing future connections to the proposed Cupar North development and for a southern link option longer-term, should this be required.”

A spokesman for A&J Stephen said the development would help the company continue to support 150 jobs and would build on the success of new schemes in the likes of Perth, Guildtown, Errol, Pitlochry, Kinnesswood and Brechin.