Fife College Launches Consultation for New Campus Development

Fife College has launched a period of public consultation about its plans to build a new College Campus on the former Shepherd Offshore site in Dunlin Drive in Dunfermline.

Under the banner ‘Building Brighter Futures’ the consultation is part of the formal process to secure planning consent from Fife Council and views gathered over the period will inform the planning application submitted to the Council.

Central to the consultation period is a drop-in style event which is being held on Wednesday 27 July, 2-8 pm, at Dunfermline East Church, Nightingale Place in Dunfermline.

Staff from the College and the Project Team will be on hand to explain the nature of the proposals for the site and answer any questions from the public throughout the day. Feedback cards will also be available for visitors to complete and share their views.

David Neilson, Vice Principal for the College is excited about the consultation period which marks a step forward towards the creation of a new Fife College campus. Said David: “Having a period of consultation and hearing the views of people in the community we serve is extremely valuable to us. It will enable us to share our ideas about our new campus with the public from this early stage and find out what’s important to people about having a campus built on this particular site. We will consider all of the views expressed and use them to shape and design our new campus putting our students at the centre of all that we do.

“Up until now we have engaged with our staff and students and this will continue, however, we look forward to taking this time to engage with a wider audience.”

Fife College announced in March this year that it had secured the option to purchase land to build the new state-of-the-art College campus, which is part of a wider strategy for the College to improve its estates throughout the Kingdom. The planned development in Dunfermline will offer the College the opportunity to create a facility that puts students at the centre, focussing on what students from throughout Fife need from the new campus.

In April the College also announced that it had appointed a project team to oversee the new campus development. Alan Harrison, Regional Director of Sweett Group, is lead technical advisor on the project and oversees all technical aspects working with architects BDP. Law firm MacRoberts have been appointed as the College’s legal advisors for the project while Caledonian Economics, working in partnership with QMPF, will support the College’s in-house finance team with project finance advice.

Since securing the option to purchase the land the College has also been working with their advisors to develop exciting and innovative proposals that will meet the needs of learners now and into the future.

Those wishing to make comments as part of the consultation can also do so online by visiting www.fife.ac.uk and completing a feedback form or by emailing [email protected]. Comments can also be sent in writing to New Campus Consultation, Fife College, Halbeath Campus, Pittsburgh Road, Dunfermline, KY11 8DY.

The closing date for all comments is Tuesday 20 September 2016.

ENDS

For further details on this News Release contact Lyn Gold on 01383 559028 or 07788291167

Photograph Attached:

-David Neilson, Vice-Principal of Fife College

-Proposed site, Dunlin Drive, Dunfermline

Notes to Editors:

The Shepherd Offshore site was chosen as the preferred option by the College Board after detailed consideration of a number of sites within the Dunfermline area because:

• It offers the College flexibility and freedom to build a facility which puts students at the centre, focussing on what students from throughout Fife need from the new campus.
• Capacity of site – the College can have a substantial ground floor footprint reducing the number of floors that are required, making it more accessible.
• No listed building costs or restrictions which would need extra funding and reduce the capacity for the funds to be used to improve opportunities for students.
• No added issues to deal with on construction such as site contamination or demolition requirements which would cost time and money and would reduce the capacity of the funds to be used to improve opportunities for students.
• Ability to use the fixed office component of the site, providing additional cost-savings on the build and increasing opportunities for these funds to be used to improve student facilities.
• Opportunities are available for expansion if required in the future and for linking with other partners and industry on site.
• Site is accessible for those travelling from throughout Fife and beyond – an in town site would add an extra 15 minutes on average per journey to those travelling from east and central fife.
• Potential for increased parking provision compared to other sites.
• Increased scope for open spaces around the site which improves the ambience for all.