DEMOLITION work at the Tryst Centre is about to begin as part of the project to deliver a new £7.5 million Abbeyview hub.

Councillors were told the new facility would be "transformational" with building work due to start in August ahead of a 'soft' opening in November 2023.

They've already had to get an extra £1m to ensure the project goes ahead and will go back to the well for more money if costs spiral.

At the City of Dunfermline area committee on Tuesday, Andy MacLellan, community projects team manager, said: "We're well aware of the volatility in the market, which has seen fluctuating prices in steel, haulage, and other areas, it's very difficult to predict.

"The uncertainty about contractors and related factors, even on their energy costs and costs on site, there's the EU exit, COVID, other factors are driving costs.

"If it comes to pass that the actual tender prices are coming in higher, our intention would be to go back to the investment strategy group to look again at the capital plan.

"This is a priority for our service, locality management and the council, it's one of the first integrated community hubs we've done so it's in our interests to make sure this project happens.

"We would be going back if there's an uplift in costs."

Earlier this month, the council agreed to spend an extra £1m on the hub after councillors heard the estimated price tag, including demolition work, groundwork, and fixture and fitting requirements, had risen from £6.5m to £7.5m.

Mr MacLellan said: "As you're all aware, this project is about collapsing three facilities into one; that's the Tryst Centre, Abbeyview Community Centre and re-purposing the local office, which closed a number of years ago.

"The project has created many opportunities to merge these rundown local facilities; it becomes an inclusive facility for all, one-door access to a range of services, it's at the heart of the neighbourhood and it's a modern, integrated, new facility.

"So, hopefully, it will have a transformational impact on the local community, with a welcoming increase in facilities; it will provide integrated services and community-use spaces, so we're very hopeful it will be a very successful asset when completed."

He told the committee the demolition of the Tryst Centre was due to start before the end of this month and should be completed by the end of April.

They plan to tender for the work in June, appoint a contractor in July and start work in August. The hub should be completed by September 2023.

He said the community centre was scheduled to be knocked down in the autumn of next year.

The "state-of-the-art" hub will include a welcoming entrance, reception and offices; a large multi-use hall which can be used for events, sports and community functions; general purpose rooms; a teaching kitchen; a dedicated IT suite; a large community space for a range of activities including the after-school club and mother and toddler group; storage for centre users and groups; a secure garden and play area; and new landscaping with space for community planting.

There's also land set aside for future expansion, if it's required at a later date.

Committee convener Councillor Helen Law said: "This is a really good news story.

“It’s taken us a wee while longer to get here because of the circumstances and I think we would have been here sooner if it hadn’t been for the pandemic, but we do have something that looks great on paper.

“There’s been a lot of consultation carried out, and I’m looking forward to seeing it all coming together.”