AN APPEAL against a decision to check out plans for an Airbnb in Oakley has been lodged with the Scottish Government.

Proposal for an Airbnb at the former quarry was twice refused by Fife Council when permission was sought to build a holiday let at the site off Carnock Road.

After the first application was rejected in December, the proposal was re-worked in May and consent sought for a self-catering holiday chalet on the disused quarry, which is to the north of the A907 and east of Sir George Bruce Road.

In September, West and Central planning committee voted 10-3 to reject the plans in an effort to protect the countryside from “sporadic and unjustified” development.

Appeal documents highlighted the need for tourism accommodation within the Dunfermline area.

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They added: "Contrary to the Council’s argument that there is little demand for tourism facilities, the lack of local supply of tourism accommodation in West Fife is such that occupancy rates for those facilities that do exist are above the national average.

"As a further consideration, in terms of an assessment of the proposed development under Section 25 of the Act, neither the NPF4 or Fife Plan state a requirement to demonstrate demand for tourism accommodation as a pre-requisite to approval of a planning application for such development.

"Therefore, despite the strong evidence of a significant level of demand, even if it were to be demonstrated that there was little demand, this would not form a justification for refusal of the application.

"In addition, the Council considers the site to be located within an area of uninterrupted countryside where any incursion of development would be considered to be sporadic.

"In reality the character of the area can best be described as one involving significant levels of development when taking into account the villages of Carnock and Oakley.

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"Within such a context the addition of the proposed development can easily be absorbed without any appearance of being sporadic."

Planning agents for applicant Kenny McCallum called for the council's decision to be overturned.

"It is considered, based on the above, that a robust justification for approval of the proposed development at this location exists under the terms of the relevant policies identified within NPF4 and FIFEplan," they added.

"In this regard it is requested that the Council’s decision be overturned and this appeal be upheld."