Fife Council has approved an interim planning policy for use when determining planning applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the St Andrews and East Fife Local Plan Area.

It will also be incorporated into all of Fife's new local plans. Members of the Planning Committee agreed the policy as an interim measure until a robust Fife-wide policy is prepared.

The interim measures are being introduced in response to community and elected members' concerns about the increasing numbers of planning applications for HMOs.

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John Beare, chair of the Planning Committee said: "HMOs are an important and necessary form of accommodation for people with specific housing needs including those requiring supported accommodation, the homeless, young and migrant workers and students in residences and shared accommodation.

"While the issue of HMOs and their impact on communities and neighbourhood amenity has concentrated on St Andrews it is becoming a more significant issue in rural areas, particularly with accommodation for migrant workers."

Mr Beare added that it is vital that a balance for communities is found and that this interim policy helps the council to manage HMOs more efficiently in the short-term while a Fife-wide solution is agreed.

(GK/NS)