But at Wednesday's full council meeting, the administration won a vote to push through its Local Plan proposals.

The agreed blueprint will set the guidelines for building across the region for at least the next five years.

During the meeting, opposition councillors put forward an amendment objecting to 13 areas which had been earmarked for development.

In the majority of the cases, members expressed concern that many schools, even ones which are just being built, would not be able to cope if more houses sprang up. Disputed areas included the council's plans to allocate house to land at Letham, Dennyloanhead, and Slamannan
Road in Limerigg.

But the administration only agreed to shelve one proposal which wanted to zone land in Longcroft for housing.
After a lengthy debate, the opposition's amendment was defeated by 13 votes to 9.

Members of the administration insisted that the Local Plan would deliver sustainable growth in all communities.

Adrian Mahoney, convener of the environment and heritage committee, said 690 public responses had been received to the Local Plan with only a small number of objections.

The Labour-led administration said the proposals met with the requirements of the Structure Plan.

The Local Plan will now be the subject of an inquiry when objectors
will be given a final chance to state their arguments.

After the meeting Linda Gow, council leader, said that the public inquiry could be another year down the road.

She added: "These proposals are not going to put pressure on our schools."