Affordable housing plea for site of Madras College campus

PLEAS have been issued for new affordable housing on the site of Madras College’s Kilrymont campus.

The 1960s listed buildings in Kilrymont Road, St Andrews, have been put on the market ahead of pupils moving i nto their new school at Langlands next year.

Several members of Fife Council’s north east Fife area committee highlighted the need for affordable housing and stressed it was important the buildings were not left empty for long, as they could be targeted by vandals.

The school’s listing by Historic Environment Scotland, on account of its modernist architecture, means demolition will be resisted – and there are concerns this could deter potential buyers of the 15.5 acre site.

St Andrews SNP councillor Ann Verner said: “While I appreciate the officers have just produced a document to explain to prospective developers the implications surrounding the development, I truly hope any future plans include a substantial number of affordable housing – something which is definitely lacking in St Andrews.”

The town’s Labour councillor Brian Thomson said: “My preference for this site would be to see the buildings demolished and the bulk of the site developed for affordable housing.

“There is a huge need for affordable housing in St Andrews.”

He said the council was “slightly hamstrung” by Historic Environment Scotland’s listed buildings policy, adding: “The big concern is that the building will lie empty and potentially be subject to vandalism.”

Liberal Democrat member Jane Ann Liston said: “The new school is going to be finished in April 2021 and the pupils will start moving in in June.

“Then we have the summer holidays and that’s when ne’er-do-wells set fire to schools and we want to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

Councillors were told the buildings remained for sale and that there was no proposal yet for redevelopment.