Proposals to turn empty offices into flats in Dunfermline

City Hotels Ltd have submitted a planning application to change the use of one of the floors above the music venue at 7 Canmore Street.

The four storey building dates back to 1912, it's grade C listed and located in Dunfermline's conservation area.

If plans are approved they'll turn 180 square metres of vacant office space on the second floor into two flats.

On the third floor is a flat under separate ownership while the ground and first floor are used by PJ's, which is owned by City Hotels.

A supporting statement on their behalf explained: "The premises were occupied by the applicants until early 2023 when it was decided that the space was far to large for the three employees based there.

"Graham + Sibbald started to market the premises in April 2023 but there has been little or no interest.

"Home working trends have had a severe effect on the marketability of this type of property and the seven flights of steps with no lift facility were problematic."

The application says it's "likely that the development will be exposed to noisy activities" from PJs, the adjacent Khushi’s Indian restaurant and Lourenzos nightclub to the rear - albeit the latter two have been closed since the fire at Khushi's in April 2023 - as well as road traffic.

Noise monitoring was carried out for 72 hours between Friday December 9 and Monday December 12 last year which was "considered to be worst-case for noise due to social activities".

The results said that both the 16-hour daytime average and 8-hour night-time average noise would exceed the thresholds but if mitigation measures, such as double glazing and positioning the bedrooms at the rear of the properties, were deployed there should be no adverse impact for residents.