CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 125 homes in Aberdour have been refused.

Hillside School owners wanted permission to build the properties, which would provide funds to relocate their existing facility into a modern, purpose-built school.

The proposals attracted a whopping 352 objections which included Aberdour Community Council.

Plans have been knocked back on the grounds that "inadequate information" has been submitted.

An application made in 2017 was refused on the same grounds.

Fife Council planners said that the applicants had failed to address issues such as visual impact on the surrounding impact and protection of species, flooding risks and amenity impact specifically relating to noise.

Ian Fleming, Aberdour Community Council chair, said: "It has been a long and enduring time as the application has been going on and on.

"There has been a lot of discourse between the planners and the agents.

"Information was not coming forward and I think refusal is the right thing.

"The owners have other options and it could go to the Reporter so it's all very questionable and we haven't got a definite answer."

The controversial plans attracted even more objections in 2017 – a total of 461.

Concerns that the development would double the size of the village remain today.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) objected on grounds that the flood risk must be addressed and many other government organisations said they would need more information.

A council officer said: "The application has been the subject of many concerns raised by the planning service and many consultees across a range of material issues.

"The applicant has sought to address these concerns and the planning service has endeavoured to provide the opportunity to address these matters where this has been possible, however, only a proportion of the issues raised have been sufficiently addressed to a standard considered acceptable by this council.

"In conclusion, the planning service considers that, across a number of issues noted above, a greater level of supporting information is needed to address the issues in question before consultees and planning officers can fully assess the proposal and reach a recommendation.

"Given that it has been made clear by the applicant's agent that no further substantive supporting information is to be provided to address these outstanding issues, then the planning service is therefore progressing to refuse the application on the basis of there is insufficient information for a full determination of this application."

Hillside School is a private institution which accommodates boys aged between 10 and 18 who have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

The school provide all-year residential care for students at the 200-year-old Hillside House.

The applicant has stated that buildings dating back to the 1970s and '80s were of "considerable concern".