THERE will be no home comforts for a couple who run an equestrian centre between Cowdenbeath and Kingseat.

Adam and Lesley Strang have been living in a caravan at Cuddyhouse Livery since April 2022, looking after horses and dogs, and told Fife Council the business has proved to be successful.

However the applicants' plans for a more "comfortable" life by building and moving into a new house on the site have been refused by Fife Council.

The Strangs had explained that they didn't own a home in the area and there was a need for a presence at the livery for security reasons and to look after the horses and dogs.

The council was told the business was operating at full capacity with a waiting list for places.

A report by planning officers added: "It is explained that, having lived in the static caravan for the last two years on the back of the business established and in conditions which are far from ideal, the applicants have arrived at a juncture in their lives where they would like to develop their own dwelling on the site in order to gain a more permanent and comfortable presence from which to manage and further develop the facility."

The plans chimed with a number of policies but no financial information was submitted to support their case and officers said they failed to demonstrate "that the proposal is necessary to support the sustainable management of a viable rural business and that there remains an essential need for a worker to live here".

Full planning permission for a change of use from agricultural land to equestrian centre and dog walking business, including stables for up to 20 horses, formation of access and parking, was granted in November 2020.

Also included was consent for a static caravan on site for a period of three years.

The couple's planning agent had argued that the council officer who approved the application had agreed that a "permanent on-site residential presence" would be required at a later date for reasons of horse welfare and fire safety.

However the council report said "it is not considered that this is a fair reflection" of the officer's summation.