Fife College Submits Planning Application for New Campus Development

Fife College has announced this week that it has taken the first step in the process to secure planning consent for its planned new campus development at the Shepherd Offshore site on Dunlin Drive in Dunfermline.

The College has submitted a formal Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to Fife Council which kicks off a twelve week period of consultation.

The news follows the College’s announcement 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, will act as lead technical advisor on the project and oversee 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. The submission of the PAN brings the creation of a new College campus for Fife one step closer.

Principal Hugh Logan said: “We are delighted to see the notification of our intention to submit an application for planning permission in principle submitted. This is an important step in the creation of our new campus. As part of the planning application process we will begin a period of consultation with the local and wider community, along with our students and staff, to inform people about our proposals and gather views which will be considered to shape the planning application.”

An outline business case for the planned campus was approved by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) last year and a full business case for the use of the site for the College build is due to be considered later this year. The total cost of the new campus is expected to be around £90 million, with £70 million funded via the Scottish Government’s NPD Programme and the rest from SFC and College resources.

Hugh Logan added: “Our continued staff engagement, improvement of estates and work with partners, businesses and the community across the Kingdom will be our priority as we move forward to continue to create a great College for Fife.”

To register your interest in finding out more about the consultation please email [email protected] or visit www.fife.ac.uk

ENDS

For further details on this news release contact Lyn Gold on 01383 559 028 or 07788291167

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.

Photographs Attached: Various images which show the proposed site for the new Fife College Campus in Dunlin Drive, Dunfermline.