A DYNAMIC quayside of bars, restaurants and a spa could be coming to Rosyth as part of a transformation of the town’s waterfront.

Residents can also look forward to the prospect of new housing, shops, nature walks and an outdoor activity centre as part of a £500 million vision for the waterfront that was unveiled last Wednesday.

Scarborough Muir Group (SMG), which owns land to the east and north of the Port of Rosyth, wants to create 3,500 jobs on the 135-acre site with what has been described as one of Scotland’s largest urban regeneration schemes.

SMG, as part of a commitment to work with the local community to develop proposals for the site, appointed urban design specialists JTP to facilitate a “community planning weekend” to allow members of the public to put forward their ideas for the development.

After analysing the outcomes, JTP drew up a vision for the site, which it says has the “potential to become a vital and diverse new place” and put “Rosyth on the tourist map to the benefit of the local economy”.

In the proposals outlined, four separate areas – a creative quarter, coastal quarter, learning and activity quarter and a garden village quarter – would be created, with residents stating their desire for the new development to “connect the community to the water”, have a “mix of housing, jobs and facilities for people of all ages, families and older people”, be accessible by foot, bike and public transport, provide more community amenities and become a tourist destination.

The creative quarter – to the north of the dockyard – would add “complementary new offices, workshops and light industrial units within the existing business park area” grouped around a community hub, nursery, new coffee shop and diner, and a small park and play space.

A range of visitor attractions, including what JTP described as a “dynamic mixed-use destination” of shops, restaurants, bars, coffee places, offices and apartments, would be the focal point of the coastal quarter, which would also feature an outdoor heated pool within the boardwalk terraces, a wellbeing centre and spa, gardens and parkland linking Rosyth to the waterfront, a riverside nature walk and bridge viewing platforms, a park and ride facility and a “indicative light railway halt position”.

The designers have outlined plans for an outdoor aerial activity centre that they said would be at “the heart of the development site” and would form a “regional tourist attraction”, including climbing wall, zip wires and an outdoor adventure centre.

A new primary school and playing fields have also been earmarked, while a “broad range of affordable and private housing” – also incorporating a supermarket – would be built.

Charles Campion of JTP, said: “The local community has been very positive about opening up this brownfield site for a mix of uses and activities with strong connections to Rosyth – all to bring the maximum benefits to the local area and region.”

SMG first published plans for the area in 2006 but Fife Council consistently refused to re-zone the land from port-related use only to allow a mixed-use development that would allow the development to go ahead.

However, in July last year the council’s executive committee agreed to support the principle of mixed-use development and that paved the way for SMG to submit a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) in October, triggering a public consultation period.

Speaking to the Press after the submission of the PAN, SMG director William McAlister said: “We are keen to hear the Rosyth and North Queensferry community’s aspirations for the site as it will be of huge significance for the local and surrounding areas, creating some 3,500 jobs, and completely transforming the landscape around the waterfront.”

Rosyth councillor Mike Shirkie added: “The development of the SMG waterfront site now is critical for the long-term future of South West Fife and I am delighted that a planning application is finally forthcoming.”