October 18 2024

Detailed plans have been handed to Fife Council for a third development phase at the former Madras College site in St Andrews that emphasises decorative brickwork and stone masonry in a nod to historic architecture.

Again fronted by Halliday Fraser Munro (HFM) and the Scotsman Group, who completed the conversion of an existing teaching block to provide 208 student rooms in September and are now on site with a second phase of 241 newly built flats.

The latest application outlines how a further 703 bedrooms can be delivered on playing fields north of the main building on Kilrymont Road.

In an architecture statement, HFM wrote: "Across phase three there are three main building types in use. Each building type will have its own distinct identity but collectively they will form a cohesive and coordinated community that integrates seamlessly with the earlier phases of development and the wider context.

"The development features generally modern architecture with traditional elements brought in through from and detailing."

The finalised design encloses this open space with new streets framing a central courtyard and public park. These routes will be lined by low-rise townhouses and houses to the perimeter and two larger apartment blocks at the centre. 

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Sven on 18 Oct 2024 at 13:12 PM

St Andrews is a town of stone, not cheap brick. This southern english style is not in keeping with a traditional Scottish town. The buildings could be united with hardline and more traditional Scottish architecture such as crow steps.

#2 Posted by David on 18 Oct 2024 at 17:55 PM

There is absolutely NOTHING in these designs that reflects traditional St Andrews or East Fife architecture. This is utterly modern, and out of place! Where is the rough-cast harling, external stairs, crow-step gables, red pantiles or grey slates?

#3 Posted by Lovely on 18 Oct 2024 at 18:46 PM

Agree with the above- looks kind of high end American/English trad-ish style but is that not what St. Andrews has become anyway? Not a good look to build on playing fields either but there is really good money to be made here and that will be what is driving this.

#4 Posted by Mark on 20 Oct 2024 at 14:09 PM

Unfortunately, the southern English style of the proposals is exactly in keeping with St Andrews: it's an Oxbridge colony sitting in the Fife countryside. Applying some crowsteps wouldn't make any difference to the broadening gulf between town and gown. The University of St Andrews is a massive business, a powerful lobby, and the largest landowner in this part of Fife.

#5 Posted by Robert on 21 Oct 2024 at 14:19 PM

While appreciating the various comments regarding the inappropriate use of brick rather than natural stone, as an Edinburgh resident I much prefer this design and layout to the massive soulless blocks being thrown up in our city for student residences. They are much less appropriate to their location than this.

#6 Posted by Noobserver on 22 Oct 2024 at 08:47 AM

Problem? Target audience either will feel like home or have no idea/coulldn't care less about loccal aesthetics. Win-win.

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