Housing plan for part of former college campus approved

A Fife councillor’s plan to turn part of a former college campus into a house has been approved by his colleagues.

Kirkcaldy SNP member Rod Cavanagh applied for change of use consent, which would allow office space at the Priory Lodge – part of the old Fife College Priory Campus – to be turned into a single private residence.

Although no objections were lodged against the plans, there had been some concerns about the loss of a building which had been allocated as a further education campus in the Adopted Mid Fife Local Plan in 2012.

However, members of Fife’s central area planning committee have now agreed to the project, given that Fife College has closed the campus and the building has lain vacant for more than two years.

Case officer William Shand recommended approval, suggesting Mr Cavanagh’s plan would be a “reasonable alternative” to its previous use.

“The proposed development is considered acceptable in design and layout and there would be no detrimental impact in terms of transportation, residential amenity, flooding or drainage,” he added.

The building itself was formerly used as the gate lodge to the B-listed Priory to the south of the site, and was built in 1901.

With Fife College having vacated the Priory Campus, applications are now starting to be received for developments within the site.

Planning permission has already been approved for two residential properties at a building formerly used as a nursery, while another change of use application has been lodged for a car sales and repair facility at the south of the site.