PLANS for 211 new homes at Kinglassie have been approved as Fife Council said it won't make the existing traffic problems any worse.

Officers acknowledged the B921 / B922 junction that borders the development operates "well beyond its capacity" while a local councillor said they'd be adding 400 more cars onto already busy roads.

However, the local authority have no plans or money to put in traffic lights, which a report said would help resolve the problem, and it would "not be competent" to ask the developer, Quale Homes of Ladybank, to pay to "resolve an existing issue".

At the recent west and central planning committee, Cllr Derek Noble said: "We're going to put new junctions onto the road that's already busy, coming in and out of Kinglassie, with 211 houses, say two cars per house, that's over 400 cars going in and out of there, on an already busy road and an already busy junction, leading onto another busy road at Cluny.

"And it is tail-backed all the time. One little mishap on the Kirkcaldy bypass creates even more havoc on that road."

Legal services manager, Mary McLean, said: "You're absolutely right and the report acknowledges the junction is already beyond its lifeline in terms of performance.

"That exists now without the development.

"The proposal before you means it's a no detriment in terms of the left linking lane will make sure that this development does not contribute further to the bad junction.

"The situation will not be any worse and on balance that's as fair as we can expect from this developer as the transportation authority are responsible for progressing this."

The council's transportation service "raised an apprehension" about the proposed mitigation measures, feeling it wouldn't benefit road users and the junction "would continue to operate well beyond its capacity".

A report to the committee added: "Nevertheless, officers recognise that it would not be competent to require the applicant to resolve an existing issue.

"It is also noted that Fife Council does not have a proposal in place to carry out any improvement works on the B922/B921 junction."

Councillors were told that the junction is very busy in the morning and evening, with queues and delays for vehicles turning left or right from the B922 on to the B921.

With traffic lights not an option, the 20mph speed limit will be extended from Kinglassie to cover the front of the development site and a dedicated left turn only lane will be added to the B922.

The report continued: "As no funding has been secured by the council for the signalisation works, meaning at this time there is no guarantee the works will come forward, it is felt by the planning authority that it would be more appropriate to secure the applicant’s proposed left turn flare lane mitigation proposal through the use of a planning condition."

The site is south of Lawrence Park and the plans include 45 affordable homes for Kingdom Housing Association, two new access roads, landscaping, footpaths, a playpark and a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS basin).

The seven hectare greenfield site is currently used for agricultural purposes.

There were 11 objections, including one from Kinglassie Community Council, and one letter of support.

Concerns included the increase in traffic, road safety, flood risk, loss of agricultural land, lack of capacity at local schools and nursery, lack of healthcare facilities, overshadowing, loss of privacy, increase in noise and light pollution and loss of view.

Quale will build two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, as well as three-storey blocks of flats.

The first homes should be ready in 2024 and the development completed in 2028.