A DECISION to back a developer’s request to demolish the old Inverkeithing Primary School has been blasted as “short-sighted” by a housing charity.

Despite planners recommending demolition of the listed building be refused, members of the West Planning Committee voted against it on Monday.

Allanwater Developments Ltd have lodged plans to build 28 affordable homes at the Roods Road site but they want to knock down the two category C-listed buildings, stating it’s the only way to make housebuilding viable.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) objected to the demolition but Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay councillor Alice McGarry said the building was “dragging” down the town and the time had come to move forward.

“There is no interest and the developers have tried to market it for conversion,” she said.

“I do not normally vote against the recommendation of the planning officers but I am not sure why residents should have to wait any longer. Inverkeithing has a need for affordable housing.”

Cllr Rosemary Liewald asked if parts of the building could be kept.

Kevin Treadwell, service manager and committee officer, said that Historic Scotland had argued against demolition because they were content that the building could be used and reports had indicated that the building was “structurally sound”.

When put to a vote, seven members voted for demolition with four against.

Members of the committee were told they would have to state their reasons why the demolition should go ahead so they could be presented to ministers who will make a final decision within two months.

Andrew Prendergast, of housing charity The Vivarium Trust, said: “Local people really don’t want to see the school demolished and a recent community meeting in Inverkeithing showed strong support for an alternative proposal for a community-led re-use.

"This is an incredibly short-sighted decision from the bad old days when much-loved historic buildings were routinely lost to developers, and community feelings counted for nothing.

"It goes completely against the move in Scotland for Planning to reflect local authorities statutory duties to protect heritage and deliver the Community Empowerment Act.

“Only last week Fife Council applied to Historic Environment Scotland for £2 million for heritage regeneration of key buildings and community development in Inverkeithing.

"This decision by Councillor McGarry’s committee completely undermines that initiative and instead gives the green light to the wreckers and commercial interests.

"It’s a very poor day for Inverkeithing and for Planning in Fife." 

Separate planning permission for the erection of 28 houses at the site was also recommended for refusal but Cllr Helen Law, acting convener, ruled that a decision on the houses should be deferred until the Scottish Government had determined whether the school buildings should be demolished.