Angered waterfront developer claims council ignored views

Rosyth: Landowner left ‘disappointed’ at planning stage

One of the key players in redeveloping Rosyth waterfront claims that it has been ignored by Fife Council.

Scarborough Muir, owners of the 120-acre development Queensferry One, says it has been disappointed by local councillors who approved a framework to regenerate the site.

Members of the region’s south-west Fife area committee endorsed the Rosyth Development Framework document, which provides guidance for how the site should be regenerated.

However, Scarborough Muir has claimed its views have been sidelined, despite it being the largest landowner involved at the site.

William McAllister, property director at the company, said: “We believe that a number of fundamental steps had been missed in reaching the stage that a development framework was put before the committee, namely the commissioning of a comprehensive development framework master planning exercise and public consultation.

“Both are standard practices in a development of this scale but our representations to the planning officials were ignored.

“It is one thing to draft a development framework in isolation. It is quite another to ensure it is commercially viable and has the interests and aspirations of the community, the council and the majority landowner at heart.”

Local councillors passed the framework plan on Wednesday, after Fife Council had been instructed to produce the document to coordinate development of the key strategic site. That was despite its three Conservative Party members calling for approval to be deferred for further consultation with the three landowners, Scarborough Muir, Babcock International and Forth Ports Ltd.

Though disagreeing with the decision of councillors, Mr McAllister said: “Despite another setback caused by Fife Council, we remain very much committed to the comprehensive development of Rosyth waterfront.”

Fife Council said it remained committed to working with landowners to fulfil the potential of Rosyth waterfront.

Robin Presswood, the region’s head of economy, planning and employability, added: “The planning framework is intended to highlight flexibility within the planning system to accommodate emerging development proposals, and to demonstrate the challenges that require to be addressed in bringing forward development at the waterfront.

“The planning service will now support the landowners in preparing future planning applications for various sites at the waterfront. There will be extensive public consultation on any future planning applications before a decision can be taken on any development.”

Despite another setback caused by Fife Council, we remain very much committed to the development. PROPERTY DIRECTOR WILLIAM MCALLISTER

Picture: Steven Brown. Scarborough Muir is one of the main figures in the Rosyth waterfront project.