Although the Tayport Local Plan Action Group said East Fife still had a fight on its hands against the extensive new housing planned across the region, this was a result that could inspire others.

TLPAG chairman Dr Fionn Stevenson said, “This is a huge victory when you consider that they were going to foist 444 houses on the town.

“The plan also directly acknowledges the importance of TLPAG’s campaign over the last year in changing the council’s thinking, as well as complaints from Dundee Council about Fife encroaching on their housing catchment area. We were really pleasantly surprised; we expected they would reduce the numbers but this is just incredible.”

She said particularly welcome was the scrapping of plans for 290 houses at a local beauty spot at the top of Spearshill Road.

Dr Stevenson said places such as Cupar and St Andrews now needed to “take up the baton”.

“Although we have won the battle we are still losing the war,” she said.