CAMERON CONNECTION GETS PLANNING CONSENT
APPLICATION APPROVED
On 30th January 2008 Fife East Area Committee approved by a clear majority the Outline Planning Application for Cameron Connection, subject to conditions and a section 75 agreement for the affordable housing.
PUBLIC HEARING
The approval followed a strong Public Hearing presentation in November, at which Christine Riach introduced the proposals. ‘Environmental protection and sustainability, education, economic prosperity, play and recreation are the cornerstones of these proposals’, she told the well-attended meeting.
‘Cameron Connection presents an ideal opportunity to bring together local skills, producers, suppliers and customers in one location with an interesting and relevant blend of uses and a changing range of seasonal activities to enrich the potential for employment, leisure and life enhancement’.
PLANNING CASE PRESENTED
The project architect presented the planning case for the project, reminding the Council that Scottish rural planning policy is clear in its intentions: ‘Rural Scotland needs to become more confident and forward looking both to accepting change and benefiting from it’. Recent Government guidance states ‘Planning authorities should support a wide range of economic activity in rural areas, and seek environmental enhancement at every opportunity’.
Other contributions in support of the project were made by ecologist and former Fife Ranger Les Hatton, transportation consultant Hugh Munro and Kingdom Housing Association’s Alan Henderson. Vikki Hilton, who prepared detailed reports of the two Open Day events, Joanne Brindley whose landscape masterplan for the project is supported by SNH, and Andrew Macfarlane who carried out the ecological assessment, also attended the Hearing.
CAMERON CONNECTION & THE FIFE COMMUNITY PLAN
A STRONGER FUTURE FOR FIFE
As a rural regeneration and farm diversification project Cameron Connection will bring new employment, much needed brownfield family housing, including affordable housing, improved local services, landscape enhancement and better access to the countryside around Cameron.
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HEARING ISSUES ADDRESSED
The project team prepared a further statement in November with clarification of issues raised at the Public Hearing.
Among the points made were:
• The new access will meet the Council’s standards in full and enhance safety
• A food supply chain at Cameron Connection will generate no extra traffic but can make a significant reduction in carbon emissions and reduce environmental damage
• Bio-mass will make a significant reduction in carbon emissions
• A district heating system that includes Cameron Cottages should reduce the vehicle movements to and from the site arising from short-term woodchip importation, and a significant reduction in traffic once the on-site crop is established
• Low-carbon building design, renewable energy, travel reduction to shops and services and green businesses at Cameron Connection should reduce overall carbon emissions
• Affordable housing in rural areas such as Cameron Connection is supported by Scottish Government housing and planning policies, Communities Scotland, Scottish Housing Associations, and Fife’s Community Plan
• To exclude affordable housing from rural areas as objectors suggest will promote social exclusion
• The project business plan is predicated on a 3 year implementation programme
• There has been no decline in visitor numbers to Fife in recent years, and annual occupancy rates for St Andrews have remained steady, consistently above the national average
• The need for housing animals under the livestock system proposed for the farm is substantially reduced
• The housing and eco-village has been calculated to use less water than when Northbank was a dairy farm, partly due to the rainwater harvesting and greywater recyling proposed. |
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The enabling brownfield housing development is intended to help fund infrastructure and site preparation work:
• The demolition and removal of around 40,000 sq ft of existing derelict and redundant farm buildings
• The breaking up and crushing for re-use of extensive concrete foundations and hardstanding within the 2 hectare farmyard area
• The provision of a new road access with right turn lane, bellmouth and bus stop on the A915
• The construction of around 400 metres of new road to adoptable standard
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• The construction of around 3 km of new access paths for recreation and link to Cameron crossroads
• The construction of on-site foul and surface water drainage system with balancing ponds and greywater re-cycling
• The under-grounding of around 500 metres of existing overhead power line in the location of the Visitor Destination
• The installation of a district-heating system fuelled by on-site renewable energy, with combined heat and power generation
• Clearing the backlog of urgent tree maintenance work |
PROJECT REVIEW
A review of the project has begun, and is expected to be continued during the summer of 2008. This will inform the reserved matters application, which will be needed before work can commence on the ground.
2008 OPEN DAY
It is hoped to have another Open Day at Northbank Farm when more detailed plans have been prepared later in 2008.
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RARE BREED PIGS AT NORTHBANK
Thelma and Louise, a couple of two year old Tamworth sows recently
joined the collection of rare breed animals at Northbank Farm.
Berkshire sow, Charlotte, gave birth to four piglets early in 2008.
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CHICKENS
The collection of hens continues to grow and now includes Polands. Mentioned in books of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries the Poland is a very old breed, established in Britain during the 1700s. |
