£1M For Regeneration

Two Fife towns are set to benefit from a million pounds worth of funding towards regeneration projects

£750k is earmarked for transforming the building at 15 Wemyssfield in Kirkcaldy into a major new Voluntary Sector Business Hub.

Funding of £300k has also been secured to create a Community Learning and Development hub using the vacant office space at 70 Stenhouse Street, Cowdenbeath.

The boost was announced this week and comes from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF).

Councillor Lesley Laird Depute Leader and Executive Spokesperson for Economy and Planning said: "This is very good news for the people of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and again demonstrates Fife Council's commitment to attracting additional national funding to support local regeneration priorities. The grant will safeguard a landmark town centre building in Kirkcaldy and provide much needed business, training and support space for our voluntary sector partners. The Community Learning and Development (CLD) hub in Cowdenbeath will benefit the local community and bring CLD activities together in a single fit for purpose building.”

Kenny Murphy, Chief Executive of Fife Voluntary Action who will manage the Voluntary Sector Business Hub in Kirkcaldy, said: “It has been our long-held ambition to develop a major voluntary sector business hub in Kirkcaldy. We plan to have more than 15 charities operating from the building within the next 12 months. I’m looking forward to working closely with Fife Council to bring this building back to life and create a hub of information, assistance and opportunity for people of all ages.”

The grant represents another significant success for the Council in attracting external funding to support regeneration activity and builds on the £1.5m secured from the RCGF last year to support projects in Lochgelly and Gallatown. It also follows on from the recent announcement that next year Fife Council will, for the first time receive £1.32m from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund. Both projects will be completed by March 2016.