Plans to bring 'derelict' flats on Bruce Street back in use

Councillor James Calder is enthused by the idea of turning "derelict" flats above shops on the Dunfermline thoroughfare into modern apartments.

And Fife Council said they're already in talks with Byzantian Developments, who want to knock down an old local authority office on Walmer Drive and replace it with 42 new homes, and looking at opportunities on Bruce Street.

Cllr Calder, convener of the City of Dunfermline area committee, said: "We have a need for more housing but also to regenerate Dunfermline's city centre.

"As new housing developments in town and city centres is part of the Fife Council strategy, we have a great opportunity to tackle both these needs.

'Derelict' flats above shops on Bruce Street should be turned into homes, says Cllr James Calder. (Image: Google Maps)

"I asked about this at the cabinet committee recently and welcomed the work in Walmer Drive.

"I was extremely pleased to hear that officers are also actively looking at how we can bring derelict flats in Bruce Street above shops into housing stock.

"This would have a transformative impact on this street and I hope we can see some progress soon."

Cllr Calder had asked about the prospect of boosting areas like Bruce Street, which last month saw the 1703 restaurant, bar and hotel close its doors, through housing developments.

Attempts to breathe new life into the cobbled street have been suggested before - they asked locals in 2019 and public art and a visitors trail were two of the projects that went ahead- but it's looked tired and neglected of late with a number of long empty buildings.

There are some signs of regeneration with plans expected for a new restaurant, widely tipped to be a new venture for Khushi's after fire wrecked their premises at the corner of St Margaret Street and Canmore Street, at 19-21 Bruce Street.

Head of the council's housing service, John Mills, told the Press: "We are looking at a number of city and town centre sites across Fife as part of our 'Developing Town Centre Housing' approach.

Ideas to help regenerate Bruce Street have been put forward before, while Cllr James Calder says transforming 'derelict' flats into modern homes would provide a real boost. (Image: Newsquest)
"This includes working with the developer at Walmer Drive and looking at the potential for more residential opportunities to be brought into other areas of the city, including Bruce Street.

"This is at a very early stage of work but will be progressed further in 2024."

The council may well be working with Byzantian but they haven't yet given planning permission for the developer's proposals at Walmer Drive, which were submitted in March last year.

The application has attracted six objections including two from law firms - Morgans, who occupy the adjoining building, and Stevenson and Marshall on East Port.

Due to the level of opposition, a decision will be made at a future meeting of the west and central planning committee.

Byznatian are better known locally for their work in transforming what was a dilapidated former factory site on Pilmuir Street into the Linen Quarter, which is made up of swish new apartments and retail units.