A CONTROVERSIAL application to build a new care home in the historic village of Falkland has been approved. Kingdom Homes Ltd., the owners of Edward House, have been given permission to knock down the existing Victorian building and replace it with a new purpose built 50-bedroom care home.

That was despite a raft of objections from local people, the village's community council and the Scottish Civic Trust.

The community council had cited concerns over the impact on neighbouring properties and the demolition of the existing building, while the Scottish Civic Trust in its objection, stated the demolition of Edward House would be "detrimental to Falkland as a whole".

The plan had also been recommended for rejection by council planning officers on the basis that it would result in the loss of a traditional stone built villa.

Planners also felt the new building would be "bulky" and "over-dominate the site" and "fail to make a positive contribution to the surrounding area" and "create a harmful change to the appearance and character of the eastern approach to Falkland."

However, councillors on the north east Fife area committee decided that only the centre of the village was of "historical importance" and that the main route in from the New Inn would not be spoiled.

Howe of Fife councillor Donald Lothian also made the point that when some of the houses in Liquorstane were built in 1971 they were also accused of being "inappropriate in design."