Kirkcaldy waterfront flats plan under threat following objections

Fife Council urged to reject proposals for esplanade site

Ambitious plans that could transform the face of a famous Fife waterfront are hanging in the balance after council planners recommended their refusal.

Members of the central and west planning committee are due to consider Broughty Ferry-based developers Grant Road Properties’ blueprint for 59 flats and commercial units on a site at the west Kirkcaldy Esplanade next week.

But the multi-million-pound investment looks set to be stopped in its tracks after both Fife Council’s education and transportation services raised objections.

The final decision will fall to councillors on Wednesday, but The Courier has learned local authority planners have formally recommended turning down planning permission ahead of that meeting.

In her assessment, case officer Katherine Pollock said: “It is acknowledged that the proposed development will involve the reuse of derelict brownfield land, which is a positive material consideration, however this is not considered to outweigh the design, transportation, natural heritage, flooding, drainage, coastal erosion and education considerations which are deemed unacceptable.”

The three blocks of flats and commercial units have been earmarked for a vacant site to the south-east of the Morrisons supermarket on Kirkcaldy Esplanade, next to Seafield beach.

Fife’s education service said it could not support the development as there is no capacity to accommodate the development at Kirkcaldy West Primary School.

Transportation services said there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate the proposal would not negatively impact on the capacity of the Seafield Road/Kinghorn Road junction.

It also cited a lack of measures to promote the use of sustainable transport, the shortfall in communal car parking spaces, and absence of electric vehicle charging points as reasons to refuse.

A statement on behalf of Grant Road Properties said the residential-led mixed use development would act as a “catalyst” for wider redevelopment, urging councillors to back the plan.

“The proposed development will involve the reuse of derelict brownfield land, which is a positive... KATHERINE POLLOCK

An artist’s impression of the proposed flats and commercial development at Kirkcaldy Esplanade.