Approval of St Andrews Holiday Let Plans Raises Housing Concerns

Fife Council has approved plans to convert eleven St Andrews flats into short-term holiday accommodation lets. 

The decision has raised concerns about the decrease in residential housing available in the town.

The Glasgow-based Scotsman Group secured planning permission to change the use of properties at Madras House on South Street and Inchcape House on St Mary’s Place. Respectively, five flats in the Category B listed Madras House, and six in Inchcape House are to be converted. 

Fife Council’s professional planning officers determined that the proposal complies with current policy, as both properties are located within the town centre and the settlement boundary of St Andrews. 

Local planning frameworks prioritise development within settlement boundaries, with proposals considered compatible with pre-existing land use and infrastructure capacity. 

Scott McInroy, a planning officer at Fife Council, stated that the use is consistent with residential use, with expected noise and activity levels comparable to those of standard housing.

Although Fife Council has granted official approval, residents and community groups have raised concerns regarding the reduction of long-term housing availability. 

With South Street already comprising a number of properties used for houses of multiple occupation and short-term lets, pressure on housing availability continues. 

This has been an ongoing issue in St Andrews, where demand for student and local housing is high, with rising rental costs and limited availability for long-term residents. 

According to Fife Today, in a report to councillors, Scott McInroy concluded that the development would not have an “unacceptable impact” on the area’s character or utility, noting that  South Street already contains a number of properties in use as commercial lets, self-catering units and houses in multiple occupations.

They also noted that the proposal is likely to support the local economy by providing “additional accommodation for visitors to St Andrews” — a town with an established tourism sector. 

Councillor Al Clark questioned whether the decision should be delayed, asking whether the council should “wait for this report before agreeing this,” referring to the ongoing consultation on short-term lets. In response, the development management service manager, Alastair Hamilton, explained that planning decisions must be made based on current policy, not potential future changes.

Additionally, St Andrews Community Council has raised concerns regarding parking provision at the sites, although these were not considered sufficient grounds to refuse the application.