THERE are plans to build 43 new homes on the site of the old Oakley Bowling Club.

KJJ Properties Ltd, of Kirkcaldy, said their proposals would bring back to life an abandoned piece of land in the centre of the village.

The affordable housing development, north of Blairwood Terrace with Oakley United's football ground on one side and Oakley Industrial Estate on the other, would have a mix of house types.

If approved, there would be six specific needs ground-floor flats, six first-floor flats, five specific needs cottages, one cottage suitable for a wheelchair-user and a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes.

A planning statement on behalf of KJJ explained: "The site was previously used as a bowling green for the village and formed part of a wider complex of community facilities to the north of

the main street that also included a clubhouse and tennis courts.

"All of these facilities were run from Oakley’s miners' welfare club across the street.

"In the past five to 10 years, the bowling green had fallen into a state of disrepair and had been unplayable as a bowling green since 2007 when the site was sold.

"The site is now wholly cleared of any buildings and is currently covered in rough grassland and shrubbery."

It continued: "This development proposal seeks to re-enliven a currently underused piece of land at the heart of the community, providing newer, affordable, energy-efficient housing.

"This housing will help to reduce heating cost compared to existing housing stock and make the properties more affordable to run from a tenant’s perspective."

The plans include one-vehicle access from the A907/Blairwood Terrace as well as traffic-calming measures and safe crossing spaces.