Cllr David Ross

Fife Council today approved the business case to support the Dunfermline Strategic Transportation Intervention Measures programme, and authorised submission to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal joint committee and government partners, for final approval. 

Members of the council’s policy & co-ordination committee were told that the strategic business case will help transform Dunfermline’s transport infrastructure, in terms of place making and inclusive and economic growth, including unlocking the development of up to 2,000 affordable and 6,000 private homes.

The Dunfermline Strategic Development Area is one of the largest areas of strategic growth in Scotland. It has the potential to provide approximately 8,000 homes (including a minimum of 25% affordable houses), 80 ha of employment land, new primary schools and developer contributions to secondary education facilities in the Dunfermline area, as well as other community facilities. 

Cllr David Alexander, Fife Council co-leader, said: “The business case for the Dunfermline Strategic Transportation Intervention Measures Programme - part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland (ESES) Region City Deal – will now be submitted to the City Region Deal Joint Committee and thereafter the Scottish Government to support grant applications to part-fund the programme.  

“Fife Council will deliver a major investment programme in strategic transportation infrastructure in Dunfermline to support the delivery of homes, employment land and community infrastructure such as schools, shops and urban parks. This infrastructure will create climate friendly and climate ready development linking transport infrastructure. Such investment will accelerate inclusive growth, create new economic opportunities, and new jobs that will help to reduce inequalities in the Dunfermline area and beyond.” 

Cllr David Ross, Fife Council co-leader, added: “This is one of the key benefits we are getting from the City Region Deal and is crucial to Dunfermline’s development. The Dunfermline SDA programme will not only assist Fife’s post-COVID 19 economic recovery but will also unlock the delivery of up to 2,000 affordable houses. 

“This infrastructure is essential to unlocking and delivering the council’s adopted Local Development Plan sites as part of the strategic growth of Dunfermline and to assist in achieving Plan4Fife, Fife’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP), outcomes. The business case proposal, through the Housing Infrastructure Fund, will unlock and accelerate investment in essential new strategic transportation infrastructure in the Dunfermline area.” 

Fife Council said it will work in partnership with private sector landowners and developers to leverage additional investment and funding into Dunfermline, Fife and the wider City Region.  

The delivery of the Strategic Development Areas (SDAs) is central to Fife Council’s Adopted Local Development Plan (FIFEplan), which proposes several SDA sites across Fife for development. Development of the SDAs are key components to achieving the outcomes of the Plan 4 Fife and contribute to the themes of thriving places, inclusive growth and jobs and responding to the climate emergency.