Public feedback forces rethink of controversial town centre hub
The scheme to reshape Kirkcaldy’s town centre, backed by a £20 million investment from the UK Government’s Growth Fund Mission, has been altered after hundreds of residents attended drop‑in sessions and voiced opposition to an initial proposal.
Officials and the design team presented revised choices for the area at an event held at the Adam Smith Theatre this week, giving Kirkcaldy people a final opportunity to influence how the money should be spent before the proposals enter the formal planning process.
The element that proved most unpopular with the public was a three‑storey community hub originally proposed for a former service bay site between the now‑demolished multi‑storey car parks and the rear of the High Street. The space sits on varying levels and was described by planners as being of little interest to private developers.
“We are making real progress towards transformation, and the plans are getting traction,”
said Louise Playford, property service manager and member of the masterplan team, as the revised options were revealed.
New options include scrapping the hub or scaling it back
Those present at the Adam Smith Theatre were shown alternatives that respond directly to the criticism. The new options range from removing the three‑storey hub entirely, to proposing a smaller, reimagined building moved away from its original incarnation as a business hub carrying the Adam Smith name.
Officials stressed the £20 million must deliver economic benefits for the town, but beyond that the decision over what to do with the cash remains open to local choice. The public display at the theatre and the ongoing online consultation are intended to test which ideas attract majority support.
Planners outlined the practical challenge presented by the service bay site: its stepped levels and hidden location mean private sector interest may be limited. That has led the council to consider either constructing on the site itself and expanding outwards towards the waterfront, or allowing the area to remain unused — a prospect described in the consultations as leaving a space that is “empty, unused and ugly to look at”.
- Option A: Remove the three‑storey hub completely and redesign the public realm.
- Option B: Deliver a smaller, reimagined building with a different purpose and siting.
- Option C: Council builds outwards towards the waterfront to better integrate the site into the wider regeneration.
Officials say the public reaction to the first proposal was “overwhelmingly negative”, prompting the team to produce new visuals and scenarios so residents could compare alternatives before remarks are collated and the formal planning journey begins.
| Funding source | Primary constraint |
| UK Government Growth Fund Mission (£20m) | Must deliver demonstrable economic benefits to Kirkcaldy |
The revised presentation marks a shift in tone from a single flagship building to a more flexible approach that places emphasis on public acceptability. The council has encouraged locals to view the new material and submit feedback online while there is still time.
The masterplan team has framed the debate as not merely about a single structure but about how best to use scarce public resources to regenerate the town centre, improve connectivity to the waterfront, and support local businesses. The coming weeks will determine which option proceeds into formal planning and which elements are dropped or redesigned.
For residents and traders in Kirkcaldy, the choices on the table will shape the look and use of central sites for years to come, determining whether the scheme becomes a catalyst for economic renewal or a missed opportunity to knit parts of the town back together.
