Controversial Kirkcaldy former power station on market '“ for offers from £1

The former Victoria Power Station on Kirkcaldy's Victoria Road is up for sale for the nominal sum of £1 '“ to anyone who can come up with development plans to incorporate its historic frontage.
The former tramways power stationThe former tramways power station
The former tramways power station

And although it may seem like a bargain, only serious bidders for the site, which is earmarked for ambitious plans as part of Kirkcaldy’s Charette, will be considered.

The B-listed former electric power plant provided electricity for Kirkcaldy’s tram network between 1902 and 1931.

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But it has lain empty for over 80 years and is on the Buildings at Risk register.

Councillors previously approved plans for an 80-bedroomed nursing home on the site owned by United Investments Ltd. in 2014, when they heard it would cost millions to repair the listed facade of the building.

Plans to demolish the building to make way for the nursing home and supermarket, with the creation of around 200 jobs, were also put on hold last year, when Historic Scotland voiced its opposition.

Since then discussions have taken place between the parties to see if a solution could be reached.

Now the building has been put back on the market.

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David Queripal of Montgomery Forgan, the agents acting on behalf of United Investments confirmed the move.

He said: “It has been put on the market for a nominal sum to gauge the interest and see if there is anyone who is willing to buy the building and restore the facade as part of its development plans.

“The developer is exploring all the options as Historic Scotland is adamant in its position that the facade of the building be retained.”

Councillor George Kay who has supported the development plans from the outset said: “We would all have loved to see the power station building retained, but the cost of doing so is too prohibitive for any developer, and weighing up all the factors councillors decided that the best option was to allow demolition to go ahead.

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“Nobody in their right mind would take on a project like this as it would cost a fortune. I intend to write to the Culture Minister about this subject.

“To quash the plans for a building which is not particularly good nor particularly relevant seems like madness.”

David Henderson, local resident and chairman of Kirkcaldy West Community Council, echoed his sentiments: “The plans would be a real boost to Kirkcaldy. and this seems like a piece of bureaucractic nonsense to me.

“Nobody is interested in this piece of stonework which has been left so long it is a real eyesore and it will cost too much to repair.”