THINGS are about to get hot at Dunfermline Golf Club if its planning application for a new heat pump is approved.

A proposal has been submitted to Fife Council which could see a new air source heat pump installed at the clubhouse.

Pitfirrane Castle, in Crossford, is a 15th century Scottish tower house which was converted to Dunfermline Golf clubhouse in 1953 with the surrounding parkland accommodating the 18-hole and 9-hole golf courses and associated practice area.

Explaining the need for the new heating source, a statement provided by Dunfermline firm Oliver and Robb Architects, stated: "The building was added to Historic Environment Scotland’s Register of Listed Buildings on 31

December 1971 and is designated as Category ‘A’.

"Being a building of such status, it would be impossible to upgrade the fabric of the building to meet modern, thermal insulation standards without destroying the internal fabric and consequently many original features associated with the historic interior.

"Faced with rising energy costs and resultant energy bills in tandem with the thermal issues noted above, The Club would now like to introduce a modest 14KW air source heat pump on the south-east corner of the Clubhouse. This air source heat pump shall provide heating and hot water. The location has been chosen as it is discreet and is part of a single storey extension added to the original Tower House in 1975.

"The installation of the air source heat pump shall take advantages of the grants available under the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive for Commercial Buildings, which shall cease on April 1 2021.

"In addition, the proposal shall dovetail with Scottish Government’s Sustainability and Renewable Energy Strategy whilst reducing the excessive costs associated with heating a traditional building by natural fossil fuels, in this case natural gas, with its associated damaging CO2 emissions."