Councillors were said to have agreed the Taylor Wimpey development at Spencerfield would have created apparent coalescence between the town and Dalgety Bay.

Inverkeithing Community Council was among more than 175 objectors to the scheme.

Treasurer Dawn Keillor told The Courier: “People will be pleased this has been turned down.”

As well as the threat of coalescence, she said the list of concerns was “endless” and included the number of houses, the impact on the infra- structure, additional traffic and proximity of traffic to Inverkeithing High School.

The council’s development service recommended the application be refused, stating that it would “extend the urban fringe” of Inverkeithing towards Dalgety Bay and create “visual confusion” between the two settlements.

Councillors also accepted the argument it would result in the loss of a significant area of prime agricultural land and was premature ahead of examination of the FIFEplan local development plan.

Detailed planning consent for 39 houses within the site was also rejected.

A previous application for planning permission in principle for 450 houses was refused by the council and a Scottish Government reporter following appeal.