Councillors have given the go-ahead for the £15 million project which will replace the existing community centre, local office, Argos Centre and library service.

Council leader and chair of the Cabinet Committee David Ross is delighted that work on the much anticipated hub is set to start at the end of 2024.

He said: “We have discussed plans and ideas for this important development with the community for a long time and it’s great to see plans finally coming together. This will make a huge difference to the community of Templehall and the wider Kirkcaldy area.”

The new hub will be a modern, integrated building, replacing the cluster of ageing, poor quality facilities that exist in the area. The aim is to provide an inclusive and welcoming facility with a range of support and advice services in one place.

It will encourage participation in of a range of indoor and outdoor leisure activities to improve health and wellbeing and provide spaces which offer a range of family, community and youth activity.

Some key features include:

• A library which provides activities including Bookbug events
• A training kitchen where adults and young people can learn new skills and where community groups can prepare food for activities
• A bright and comfortable community meeting area with outside seating. Family and community groups can use the space which connects to an outside decked area with raised beds and growing areas, to stimulate interest in biodiversity and the outdoors
• A computer room with 10 PCs to benefit a number of services and members of the community. The library, job clubs, adult learners’ groups and young people can all now have on site access to computers when they need them
• The reception area will be bright and spacious where people can access the centre activities, sign up to a class or ask for advice from local office staff. People can also drop into the library or make an appointment for one-to-one support in one of our smaller advice spaces. All of these services can be booked or accessed in one place
• The main/games hall which can host large-scale events and is designed to accommodate a range of sporting activities
• A range of spaces to hold fitness activities, family activities, cultural events, large-scale conferences or celebrations and will also offer quieter spaces suitable for small group meetings or one-to-one support and advice
• All rooms will be accessible and adaptable so they can be used by all ages and abilities
• A bike and pram store and multi-use games area (MUGA) will be built right next to the centre allowing a range of groups to book and use this space.

Concluded Cllr Ross: “There is real excitement locally about this new facility. Bringing all these services and together helps our aim of having “no wrong door” for people to access the advice and support they need.”