COUNCILLORS have agreed to seek a compulsory purchase order on a piece of land in Dalgety Bay.

The 1.32-hectare site in Beech Way has been left derelict for 20 years and despite Fife Council saying regular communication had taken place with the previous and current owners, no development plans have ever come to fruition.

In a report to members of the council's assets and corporate services committee, head of business and employability Gordon Mole said that over the past decade, a "number of interventions" to promote the regeneration of Hillend and Donibristle Industrial Estate (HADIE) had been made.

"These include the purchase, demolition and site-servicing of the former Havelock Europa site and the construction of 8,000 square feet of small industrial units," he explained.

"In addition, Fife Council has secured planning consent to construct a further 15,000 square feet of industrial units and construction will commence this year.

"The council remains committed to the regeneration of HADIE and this gateway site has remained vacant and undeveloped for many years.

"The Fi3 Programme Board has approved, subject to approval of this committee, the purchase of the subjects for the purpose of undertaking site -servicing and funding is therefore committed through the Fi3 Programme.

"Funding has also been secured through the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, which has been approved by the Scottish ministers, as well as commuted payments secured under section 75 planning obligations."

A previous attempt for a compulsory purchase order for the site was made in 2012, however, the previous landowner demolished redundant buildings in 2013 which the council says made a "considerable improvement" to the environment.

Because of this, and intimations that the site would be re-developed, the order was not pursued.

"Since that time, however, no proposals to develop the land have come forward and the subjects have remained vacant and unused," added Mr Mole.

"Regular communication has taken place with the previous and current owners since the buildings have been demolished to establish their respective intentions for future development.

"However, no definitive proposals have been forthcoming since the original intervention."