Eight new flats in Dunfermline city centre approved

Fife Council planners have approved the bid to change the second floor offices at 5 New Row into new properties.

Replacement windows and extraction vents will be installed as part of the plans which will see two one-bedroom flats and six two-bedroom flats created.

A report by planners said the proposals were compatible with the local development plan.

It explained: "The proposal would also bring about the re-use of a redundant vacant building and would increase the number of visitors to Dunfermline town centre which would have an overall positive impact on the site and surrounding area.

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"In addition, given that there are a umber of residential properties occupying the upper floors of commercial spaces within the nearby area, it is considered that the proposal would be in keeping with the surrounding area."

A supporting statement submitted on behalf of applicant Bipin Bommakanti said the site is currently second floor, open plan office space.

"The floor in question has been on the property market as a potential business premises for five years without attracting either tenants or purchasers, which we feel demonstrates the lack of need to retain it under its current use class," it said.

"The plans submitted show that eight flats can be constructed within the proposed floor space, while conforming to all current space standards and good practice guides for the design of new dwellings.

"There is no major visual impact to the proposed conversion as the external envelope of the building would remain largely the same, while glazing would be improved for more thermally efficient units, the appearance of proposed units would be a like for like substitution."