THE green light has finally been given to demolish Fife Council's old social work building in Rosyth and replace it with a three-storey block of 24 flats.

The Park Road premises have been empty since 2014 when the department moved to New City House in Dunfermline.

A planning application was tabled by Edinburgh firm Ed Consilium Ltd in April 2017 and the west planning committee approved it in August 2018 but it's taken until now to reach a legal agreement and the acceptance of 16 planning conditions.

They include the provision of six affordable homes and 34 parking spaces, as well as details to be given to the council prior to any work starting on issues such as bin stores, wheel-cleaning for works traffic, energy-saving measures in the flats, new planting and protection for existing trees, and how they aim to mitigate dust, noise and vibration during the works.

The developer had previously told the Press their plans would fill an existing gap in Rosyth’s property market for one- and two-bedroom starter flats.

“There is a lack of supply of that type of housing in Rosyth itself,” planning agent Brent Quinn had said. “There are other developments within Dunfermline but a lack of supply for that type of flat unit.

“We have identified that as being a brownfield site within a residential setting and it would be seen as a good case to develop that kind of use within that area.

“We would make sure the properties would be a suitable distance away in terms of overlooking and shadowing and we have provided ample car-parking spaces.”

There were a handful of objections with concerns about road safety, including lack of parking spaces, speeding, increase in on-street parking and access for bin lorries.

The council had admitted that the number of parking spaces was three short of the number required according to their guidelines for such a development but a report had added: "The slight shortfall in parking provision is considered acceptable in this instance, to deliver an enhanced layout and transportation development management do not raise any road safety concerns.

"The proposals would not result in any adverse impact in terms of visual impact, built heritage, residential amenity and road safety issues.”