The Executive Committee of Fife Council has given its support to the principle of a new mixed-use development on Rosyth Waterfront which, as well as attracting up to £500 million of investment to the local area, will significantly speed the regeneration of the wider town.
In part, the decision to support the proposal for Rosyth Waterfront by developer Scarborough Muir Group Limited (SMG) stems from the council’s realisation that, in order to fulfil the town’s potential, a broader range of amenities must be made available to both local people and to visitors.
However, the recent designation of the nearby Forth Bridge as an UNESCO World Heritage Site has also spurred on enthusiasm regarding projects designed to boost the local economy.
Going forward, Fife Council and SMG will work in partnership to deliver the Fife Economic Partnership 10 Year Economic Strategy, and in doing so create the 9,000 jobs required to boost the local economy back to pre-2008 levels.
A significant milestone in this process will be the submission of a planning application for the Waterfront development, which SMG hopes to do in late 2015 or early 2016 following an extensive public consultation.
William McAllister, Director of Scarborough Muir Group said: “As one of Scotland’s largest urban regeneration schemes we are pleased to be making good progress as we work towards submitting a Planning Application.
“The support from Fife Council in the form of this mixed use allocation is of great significance and to secure the 3,500 jobs it is essential that we now move the partnership with the Council forward.
“The new strategy means that new thinking is required and we look forward to working with Council Officers to deliver the clear political direction that has been given.”
Long-term supporter of the regeneration plans, Councillor Mike Shirkie, believes that the time is now ripe for the council to press forward with the redevelopment of Rosyth Waterfront.
He says; “Having fought for the past 10 years for the mixed use development of Rosyth Waterfront, I am delighted that common sense has at last prevailed.
“It could not have come at a more opportune time with the announcement of World Heritage status of the Forth Bridge by UNESCO and completion of the Queen’s Crossing next year creating a unique three Bridges site across the Forth.
“Mixed use development of Rosyth Waterfront will provide a fantastic ‘gateway’ for tourists, create thousands of much needed jobs during the construction and operational phases and finally give access to our people to the Waterfront for the first time in over 100 years.”
Under the current plans, SMG will create a development falling under four main elements, the largest of which will be a continuous industrial and business park surrounding the current commercial waterfront and port area. Encompassed within this will be the mixed use waterfront destination, which will contain shops, cafés, bars, a hotel, several office blocks and apartment buildings.
To the eastern edge of the regeneration zone will lie the “Rosyth Gateway”, a commercial zone designed to make the most of its proximity to the town’s port. Finally, SMG will create a new waterfront promenade to incorporate Rosyth Castle and the historic Doocot, significantly improving the public space and providing access to the waterfront for 14,000 local residents.
Alex Rowley MSP concludes; “I am pleased with the Committee’s decision to accept mixed use waterfront development at Rosyth, with the recent announcement awarding Forth Rail Bridge World Heritage status, I feel the timing of the decision is right for Rosyth.”
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