NHS Fife lodge new Kincardine Health Centre proposals

NHS Fife have re-submitted a bid for planning permission to create the community health and wellbeing facility at Feregait.

The move comes while health bosses continue to wait for the funding - the cost was previously put at £7.8 million - required for work to commence.

Last year, hopes for the much-needed facility were dashed when the Scottish Government revealed that they were delaying funding until “the second half of the decade” because it was no longer a priority.

The current Kilbagie Street practice was condemned as "not fit for purpose" in 2016 and a new health centre was promised but patients and staff have had to endure years of delays and disappointment.

READ MORE: Kincardine health centre case to be raised with health minister

A similar situation exists in Lochgelly, where it's estimated at least £13m is needed for the long-promised new facility there.

With the latest planning application lodged for Kincardine, it is hoped consent will be in place so work on the new centre can begin as soon as the necessary funding is in place.

A statement to planners explains that the new building would offer the opportunity to create a new "place" within the community.

"The location of the building offers the opportunity to form a connection with the adjacent Tulliallan & Kincardine Church and Tulliallan Primary School, forming a cluster, or campus of public buildings focused around an active community parkland setting," it states.

An artist's impression of what the new Kincardine Health Centre would look like. (Image: Fife Council planning)

"The creation of a new building that will offer a wide range of public services to the community will expand the footfall from the town centre, which is in close proximity to the proposed site encouraging greater pedestrian movement along the perimeter of both sides of the parkland encouraging interaction that is focused around a new place, increasing the level of visual security around the new building and surrounding parkland.

READ MORE: Kincardine residents plan to keep fighting for new health centre

"The building also provides the opportunity for further community benefit as certain rooms could be utilised outwith the normal operating times of the health centre.

"The building design itself is seen as a ‘pavilion in the landscape’ located on the site with a light touch and embracing and enhancing the surrounding landscape and parkland within which the building sits, and the landscaped courtyard is located right at the heart of the health and wellbeing centre, bringing natural daylight, natural ventilation and landscaping into the core of the building which will enhance the patient, visitor and staff experience."

A spokesperson for NHS Fife said recent changes in planning policy meant that it was necessary to submit a new planning application for the project to build the new Kincardine Health Centre.

They added: “We remain entirely committed to the project and the submission of the new planning application helps ensure that we are in the best possible position to commence the build as soon as the necessary capital funding is made available.”