Developer's pledge to tackle dilapidated former college campus

Plans to redevelop Priory Campus have been submitted to Fife Council.

And the company behind the propose development says it is committed to its transformation.

Priory Park Estates owns the top half of the campus which includes the Round House and adjacent listed building which have been the target of vandals and fly-tippers.

It described trying to keep the site secure as “ a complete uphill battle from day one.”

VIDEO - The shocking decay of former college campus in Fife

Scott Goodall, a partner in the firm, said it had reported incidents of vandalism and fly-tipping to police – but said it had not received help.

“At the start we had a security team doing nightly patrols, and some of the guys based at business units have also kept a close eye on the place, and sent us details of any problems,” he said.

“We’ve caught kids down there, we’ve called the police, but they don’t seem interested.”

In pictures: Extensive vandalism at former college campus in Fife

Paperwork shown to the Press details persistent incidents of security boards being torn down, and children chased from the land.

He said the site was made secure just two months ago, only for the boards to be ripped off once more.

He also has CCTV footage of a van being driven into the site to dump a mountain of rubbish.

The access road is now chained off at both ends to prevent further fly-tipping.

“We feel as though we are banging our heads against a wall,” said Mr Goodall.

The developers hope the submission of a new planning application will mark the beginning of a new chapter.

The company envisages a first phase of refurbishment and replacement to create a new residential development.

It is looking at turning the listed building into seven or eight apartments, and turning the nursery buildings into two houses.

If councillors give the green light, the site will also have town houses, and the Round House will, ultimately, be demolished.

Mr Goodall believes on-site activity will have a knock-on effect and end the problems blighting the area.

“From experience, once workmen are on site and we start selling the houses, vandals and fly-tippers disappear because the whole area is secure,” he added.

Who owns dilapidated former Fife college campus?

“Right now, it is wide open and trying to prevent access is impossible given its location.

“Even with everything boarded up two months ago, they were still torn down.

We have people keeping an eye on the site during the day, we have had patrols at night, and still we have issues.

“We have to get the site secured again.”

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