Army plans new medical centre for base

FIFE Council has been asked to consider granting permission for a new two-storey centre to replace medical and dental facilities at the North East Fife Army base which are no longer fit for purpose.

The UK Defence Infrastructure Organisation wants to demolish Leuchars Station’s existing medical centre from 1936.

“There are structural concerns with the existing building which includes the presence of asbestos, poor ventilation and damp ingress,” says a report.

It continued: “The existing medical centre which has reached the end of its useful life will be demolished. The new centre aims to create a better quality of life for its users, benefit the economy of the town and help the environment with a strong emphasis on netzero carbon.

The current facility lacks adequate office space, a dedicated observation bay, adequate toilets, sufficient staff changing rooms, and baby feeding/ changing facilities.

It also has accessibility issues and doesn’t comply with modern medical confidentiality guidelines.

“The proposals will provide improved facilities within the existing site arrangements to provide health and wellbeing benefits to military personnel and their families,” the planning statement said.

Leuchars Station is intended to become the Army in Scotland’s hub, meaning the size of the Leuchars military community will grow in the coming years.

There are currently around 940 serving personnel based there but that number is expected to increase to a minimum of 1,370 and a maximum of approximately 2,030 not including spouses, children and dependants who will use Army base medical services.

The medical facility is expected to be used by about 3,700 people.

In 2022, Fife Council granted planning permission for nearly identical plans but the location of the proposed building has been amended.