Dunfermline High Street gap will be building site for 18 months

The project, at the grassy area between High Street and the bus station, will be "transformative" and it's hoped it will begin in late Spring or early summer.

Councillor James Calder, the convener of the City of Dunfermline area committee, said: "It's really important.

"There have been obvious concerns about the state of the High Street for some time and the city square will have a transformative impact.

Plans for the city square - or town square as it was at the time - were approved in December 2021. A more detailed application is on the way. (Image: Fife Council)

"Ultimately we've got city status and this is about elevating our city centre through this statement project.

"We've got the funding so it's important we get on with it and transform the centre of Dunfermline.

"Hopefully it will make it more of a draw for people and help local businesses too."

The idea is that the new city square will host farmers' markets, performances, events and exhibitions, plans approved in December 2021 show a grassed terrace area, more planting and seating, a community orchard, a gateway feature and a community hub with public toilets and an information point.

Earlier this month Fife Council admitted there had been some "slippage" - work that should have started this year that will be pushed into the next - of £300,000 on the gap site development due to "delays in finalising designs to minimise revenue costs".

Convener of the City of Dunfermline area committee, Lib Dem councillor James Calder. (Image: Fife Council)

Cllr Calder explained: "The council are having to bottom out a few more issues before proceeding to planning, although it should be coming up very soon.

"As long as there are no problems, we're hoping they may be able to get shovels in the ground late Spring or early summertime.

"We're looking at a big project and it will take a year and a half for all the work to be completed."

He continued: "There has been slippage and the ambition may take a little longer, that's why I don't want to give a specific timeframe as it still has to go through planning.

"Discussions will have taken place with officers but there may be some hold-ups along the way.

"Definitely, once it's gone through the planning process, we'll make a start as soon as possible."

A long held ambition, the council are using funding from the Scottish Government's Place Based Investment Programme.

An aerial view of what the new £800,000 city square at Dunfermline High Street should look like. (Image: Fife Council)
Dunfermline previously missed out on £10m of levelling up money from the UK Government, which would have paid for the project and other city centre improvement schemes.

With high streets up and down the country changing due to the huge shift in shopping patterns, with customers moving online and to out-of-town malls, the Holyrood cash aims to reinvigorate town and city centres.

Cllr Calder said: "We know that some traditional retail businesses around the country have been in decline and it's about how we look at replacing that, make the city centre a more attractive place to come and give people a good experience.

"Another positive is we've been doing a lot to encourage people to use public transport and this is obviously next to the bus station.

"It's always nice when coming into a city and the first thing you see is something that's really impressive. That's hopefully something we can achieve with the city square."