Fife Council has confirmed that it proposes to knock down the main building and clear the site for redevelopment, although a building to the western end of the site will be retained.

The Press previously told you about the furniture and interiors solutions firm’s move to Kirkcaldy, after entering an initial 10-year lease agreement with the council for offices at the John Smith Business Park with the option to extend for a further five years.

The council agreed to buy Havelock’s Dalgety Bay site in a £750,000 deal and we also reported how the offices could be demolished and sold on as part of the council’s regeneration plans.

Last week, Ronnie Hair, the council’s property investment and development manager, said, “The main building within the site is proposed to be demolished and the site cleared and made available for the redevelopment of modern business premises.

“It is proposed that the building will demolished later this year following the procurement of a demolition contractor.

“It is anticipated that the building situated towards the westmost part of the site will be retained and is currently advertised for sale on the open market with the view to securing a business occupier.

“It would be hoped that a sale can be secured over the next few months. “ Dalgety Bay and Hillend Community Council called on the local authority to act quickly and issued a warning about leaving sites vacant.

Chair Colin McPhail told the Press, “The last thing we want is vacant premises. Two-thirds of it is due for demolition but we don’t want to end up with another vacant derelict site.

“There have been reports of vandalism in the Maxwell building opposite Asda and of children going up on the roof. Previously, they set fire to it.

“We don’t want the site left too long because it will just become another big blemish. We don’t want it to end up derelict like the Maxwell building.

“Although the site has swapped ownership, Fife Council really should get on reasonably quick.”