Town centre projects to share £4.35 million

Main focus to be in mid-Fife where property vacancy rates are high

A raft of projects which aim to transform town centres across Fife have been unveiled.

Members of Fife’s policy and co-ordination committee have backed a list of proposed initiatives which will receive a share of £4.35 million through the Scottish Government’s £50m Town Centre Capital Fund.

Kirkcaldy is the big winner as it will receive more than a third of the allocation, but schemes in Cowdenbeath, Cupar, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Inverkeithing, Leven and Lochgelly will also benefit.

Labour councillor David Ross, the local authority’s co-leader, said the main focus of the fund would be targeted in mid-Fife, where town centre property vacancy rates range from 19.6% in Leven to 27.3% in Kirkcaldy – far above the Scottish average of 12%.

“There are obviously areas who would have liked to have seen some or more funding but if we spend it too thinly then we would lose the impact it will give us,” he noted.

Funding of £400,000 will go towards the acquisition of key buildings in Kirkcaldy’s Merchants’ Quarter to enable town centre living and commercial development, while the

There are obviously areas who would have liked to have seen some or more funding but if we spend it too thinly then we would lose the impact it will give us.

DAVID ROSS

same sum has been earmarked to deliver commercial development on a number of town centre sites.

Kirkcaldy will also see £350,000 going towards enhancements along the waterfront, including converted shipping containers being turned into business space, and extra cash going to improvements of the steps connecting the bus station to the high street, the creation of a distinctive gateway to the Merchants’ Quarter, public realm improvements and car parking improvements.

Around £500,000 will go towards delivering commercial development in Glenrothes, with £50,000 set aside to create pedestrian routes opposite the Kino Cinema, while Dunfermline will receive £300,000 towards the development of the Maygate Enterprise Hub.

A further £450,000 has been earmarked for the Inner Court/ Bonnygate mixed use development in Cupar, the so-called “gap site”, and Cowdenbeath will benefit from funding to turn the former Town House into a third sector hub and the acquisition of property in the town centre as part of planned regeneration works.

Leven will be boosted by £800,000 for projects to deliver the second phase of town centre regeneration focusing on the north end of the high street, and also to refurbish vacant dilapidated town centre units.

Elsewhere, Inverkeithing has been allocated £170,000 to expand the impact of the town’s built heritage programme, while Lochgelly will be given £300,000 towards a new Town House Square which will be used to host open air events.

Picture: Steve Brown. Kirkcaldy is the big winner as it will receive more than a third of the allocation.