Fife football club plans new role to bring former social club back into use

St Andrews United wants to turn its facilities in the town’s Langland Roads into a new physiotherapy and wellness centre. It has submitted a change of use application to Fife Council after failing to find a buyer for the premises.

The social club was opened in October 1982 and was key to keeping the club going, as it generated key finance - United had come close to closure twice in the 1970s, and the facilities helped it to thrive for the next three decades.

But, a report submitted as part of the application, said budget cuts led to declining fortunes on the pitch, and the club’s usage diminished.

It had been operating at a loss, and a decision was taken in 2024 to close the doors, and has been on the market since May 2025.

The report said: “While the building historically served as a community facility, it has become vacant and underutilised, reflecting changing patterns of demand and viability challenges associated with its former use.

“It has been actively marketed since May 2025. While this falls short of the typical 18-month marketing period often sought to robustly demonstrate non-viability, the extended vacancy, lack of interest from prospective community operators, and changing socio-economic conditions affecting such facilities provide clear evidence that the existing use is no longer viable in practical terms.

“In this context, it is considered reasonable and proportionate to bring the building back into beneficial use without further delay. Requiring continued marketing to meet a full 18-month period would likely prolong vacancy, increase the risk of deterioration, and fail to deliver any meaningful community benefit.” The club said a switch to a new physiotherapy and wellness centre was “a pragmatic approach” to secure the long term use of the building while still retaining an element of community provision.

It would provide services such as rehabilitation, injury prevention, physical therapy, and general wellbeing support. A proportion of the building will also continue to be made available for community use.

The report said: “There is a growing demand for accessible healthcare and wellbeing services, particularly at a local level. The proposed physiotherapy and wellness centre will support public health objectives by promoting physical wellbeing, reduce pressure on NHS and other healthcare services, provide accessible, preventative care within the community. The dual-use approach ensures that both healthcare and community needs are met within a single, sustainable facility.

“While the primary use will shift, the retention of community space ensures there is no net loss of community infrastructure. Instead, the proposal enhances the offer by providing modern, flexible spaces for community activities, encouraging greater footfall and engagement with the site and broadening the type of services available to local residents.

“In addition, it is important to recognise that the proposed health and wellbeing use delivers significant public benefits which outweigh the loss of the former public house/social club use. The existing use is no longer operating and has proven unviable, whereas the proposed physiotherapy and wellness centre will actively contribute to improving physical and mental health outcomes within the community. This includes access to rehabilitation services, preventative care, and structured activities such as yoga and Pilates within the multipurpose hall.”

Councillors will consider the application in due course.