Three derelict buildings, which have been a magnet for anti-social behaviour and vandalism in Kirkcaldy, are to be demolished.
Fife Council has ordered the owners of the former Fife College’s Priory Campus to take action to end years of problems at the site.
The college vacated the 7.5 acre campus in 2016, which was then sold the following year.
Priory buildings have been magnet for anti-social behaviour
Since then the three buildings – the B-listed Priory, the Roundhouse and a former children’s nursery – have been repeatedly vandalised.
The site has also been a haven for anti-social behaviour and blighted by fly tippers.
Earlier this year the council made efforts to secure the area and served notice on the owners – Suffolk-based property firm Priory Park Estate Ltd – to take further action.
However, in May firefighters were once more called to the site after fire broke out at the Roundhouse building.
Now site owners have until October 25 to comply with the notice and start work to demolish the buildings.
If they fail to do so the council has indicated that it will take action to bring the buildings down and pass on the costs to the site’s owners.
Priory building in Kirkcaldy is B-listed
The local authority said it has also consulted with Historic Environment Scotland because the Priory is listed and the site is within a conservation area.
Fife Council’s service manager for building standards, Garry Nicoll, said: “This is good news for the local community as there have been ongoing incidents with youths gathering, setting fires and putting lives at risk on this site.
“It’s no longer safe to attempt to secure these buildings – the only option now is for the owners to step up and take responsibility or we will take the buildings down.”
Meanwhile, plans to redevelop the historic Nairn Mill building, situated on the lower half of the site, were given the go ahead in December 2021 and is continuing.
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