Work to regenerate Inverkeithing’s historic centre has ended up costing £1 million more than initially planned.

The Inverkeithing Heritage Regeneration scheme was planned to be a five-year project running until March 2024, which would see £3.6 million invested in the town.

Some work has already been carried out, including restoring Inverkeithing Town House, providing a building repair grant scheme for other historic buildings, and creating a heritage themed training and activity programme.

Streetscape works are to take place over the next few months, with the town’s Mercat Cross set to be moved to a more prominent location on the High Street.

The scheme was initially funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, and Fife Council.

But the local authority said that costs have gone up due to inflation.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government allocated extra money to get the project over the line, and increased Fife Council funding will bring the total up to £4.6 million.

Convener of the South and West Fife Area Committee, Councillor David Barratt said: “There’s been various bits of money found for the project over the years, because it’s obviously dragged on.

“It’s the council’s fault that it’s gone on quite as long as it has, and the number of delays has been really quite ridiculous.

“The Council had been tasked with putting together a drawing package for the detailed design, to allow it to go to tender. Just that process went on for months because the council seemed to be understaffed.

“When it finally did go to tender, inflation had hit, and contractors were charging more. I don’t think it’s been resourced as well as it could have been unfortunately.

“Everyone’s expecting it to start next week, but we’ve been there before, and it’s never happened.”