A housing plan to transform a Kirkcaldy High Street gap site has been approved

Members of the Central and West Planning Committee, which met this afternoon, approved a planning application to turn the site of the old Co-op into a new residential development.

The land has sat empty for almost 15 years, but now, Newport Property Development of Broughty Ferry wants to take it on, and demolish the adjacent empty furniture shop to create 39 new flats.

The development will also include two offices on the ground floor.

But the plans attracted two objections, including one from Kirkcaldy West Community Council. It had concerns about the impact of the adjacent B-listed flats in Oswalds Wynd.

Speaking at the meeting councillor Gordon Langlands said he thought it was ‘fantastic’ the site is being brought back into use instead of it remaining derelict, however he understood the concerns highlighted by the community Council.

He said: “I know the community council’s concerns have been addressed within the report but it doesn’t come out particularly well, showing which paragraph addresses which bullet point.

"The community council has also highlighted over provision of retail units and I don’t see anything regarding that.”

The planning officer said he was happy to respond directly to the community council to clarify any points and address their concerns.

In terms of over-provision of retail units, the officer said: “If there is a concern on the business impact of these commercial units, it should be noted this site is on Kirkcaldy High Street which is an appropriate location for retail.

"But it’s not proposing class one retail uses, the application is seeking class two uses on the ground floor which are professional services like estate agents, mortgage brokers so they are not shops on that basis which is acceptable.”

To try to ease pressure on local schools, the planning officer said there would be an advisory note to the council’s affordable housing team, who will purchase the block from the developer, to allocate the affordable properties to couples without children or to a ‘more mature age group and demographic’.

But he said if couples in the development go on to have children who require school placements, he said there is some headroom and this could be managed by education services.

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