Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Title deed mystery threatened to hold up major Dunfermline development

Graphic showing how the redeveloped building will look.
Graphic showing how the redeveloped building will look.

A compulsory purchase order has been sought to ensure the redevelopment of Dunfermline’s last remaining A-listed linen works can go ahead as planned.

The move follows mystery surrounding a missing title deed pertaining to land at 65 (west) Campbell Street.

The lost paperwork has held up plans for additional car parking to serve Byzantian Developments’ blueprint for 157 apartments at the former Pilmuir Works.

Four tenement blocks comprising 11 flats in Campbell Street were acquired and demolished by the council in the early 1970s. However, a recent title check revealed no evidence relating to flat number 65 – which was previously owned by a woman named Margaret Szovil who died in 1973.

Fife Council has had to promote a CPO to seize the land so the Byzantian project can go ahead in its entirety, although there is a risk that the late Mrs Szovil’s relatives may be able to claim compensation if they come forward.

The council and its predecessors have been in occupation of the vacant land since 1972 without challenge, and it is understood at least two heirs to Mrs Szovil’s estate have been contacted but are not title holders.

Solicitor Alison Marr told members of Fife’s assets and corporate services sub-committee the CPO had to be progressed as there is insufficient land to accommodate the required car parking on site.

“Although two successors have been traced, they are not the title holders therefore a title cannot be obtained from them,” she said.

“They will be notified as interested parties and they may seek to complete title and claim compensation in the future.

“In that unlikely event, it is considered that the compensation due would not be significant.”

Planning permission for the redevelopment of Pilmuir Works has already been granted and it is hoped it will spark a transformation for the town centre.

The dilapidated factory was previously used by Dunlop and Duracord but has fallen into disrepair since closing in 2005.

The new-look “Linen Quarter” will boast 157 new apartments, shops, bars and takeaway restaurants.