The developer behind housing plans for the historic core of St Andrews is pressing ahead in a new partnership, despite the Scottish Government's reporter calling the proposals "dominant and overbearing".

Knightsbridge's appeal to the Government for consent for 28 flats in the old St Leonards School grounds at Abbey Park was dismissed, several months after Fife Council rejected the scheme.

But The Courier newspaper now reports that the house-builder has entered a partnership with retirement home builder McCarthy and Stone and has lodged plans for 18 apartments at the same site.

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Knightsbridge land director Robert McKinnon said: ''We are obviously hugely disappointed with the decision to dismiss our appeal but remain absolutely committed to our vision for this site in the heart of St Andrews.''

Although Knightsbridge argued that its three and four-storey block of flats would have had minimal impact on the street scene and conservation area, reporter Richard Bowden said the council was justified in refusing planning permission.

He said in his report: ''The proposed block would be dominant and overbearing, particularly when viewed from the houses and gardens along Greenside Place immediately to the north-west of it.

''The scale, bulk and design uniformity of that proposed would be out of keeping with and would adversely impact on the character and amenity of the surrounding area to an unacceptable extent.

''As such, it would be inappropriate in its local context, particularly when the appeal site has three listed buildings in its immediate vicinity and is within a conservation area.''

(NE)