A planning application was lodged with Fife Council including a masterplan vision of the site  which, if approved, will guide much needed investment into the area for many years to come – creating thousands of jobs in the process.

The application comes after an extensive period of community consultation in which Shepherd Offshore sought views from the community about what could be included in the final masterplan. Hundreds of members of the community attended a series of public exhibitions which provided information on the site and potential uses which the  masterplan has sought to incorporate Based on that feedback, Shepherd Offshore have come up with their final masterplan vision for the site.

The site, which is in excess of 150 acres, had lain vacant for over a decade (from 1997) until Shepherd Offshore took ownership late last year. Demonstrating their commitment to Halbeath, Shepherd Offshore have moved forward quickly both with their proposals for the site and preparing the site for investment by starting to demolish the existing building, with the intention of having the site cleared and ready for use in the New Year in 2012.

Shepherd Offshore’s masterplan contains outline proposals for a mixed-use development of the site as set out in the public consultation with the local community. The site is approximately 150 acres, of which only 108 will be developed and 42 acres of new public open space will be created. Shepherd Offshore’s is also proposing to integrate the public open space with Dulloch Park and Calais Muir Wood to create one of Scotland’s largest public parks.

The proposed masterplan includes:

1. A renewable energy ‘hub’ to help attract renewable energy investment to Fife, enabling Fife to play a major part in Scotland’s renewable energy revolution as well as substantial new business and industrial space.
2. A proposed new state of the art education facility campus, providing new higher education infrastructure enhancing Fife’s reputation as a centre of learning.
3. A hotel site to attract new visitors and longer stays in Fife, helping group the local tourism industry.
4. New homes for families, enabling some of the local workforce in the new business park to live close to their jobs and minimising new car journeys.
5. Other business opportunities for small businesses and retail development attracting more jobs as part of a fully integrated development.
6. A major new public park with a wide range of open space, lochans, woodland and wildlife habitats.

Andy Williamson, Director of Business Development at Shepherd Offshore, said “Our aim is to deliver real investment, real jobs, transform the local education facilities and help secure a key role for Dunfermline and Fife in renewable energy sector. At the same time, we see some scope for developing new homes for families – many of which we hope will be for families who work on the site. We also believe that by having a significant area of the site as green space, we can help create a massive and unique new area of parkland that will enhance the setting of the development, whilst also giving local residents access to new  parkland.”

“We are delighted to be bringing forward proposals to deliver the largest new investment in Fife for more than a decade. Our aim is to help Fife play a vital role in the sunrise renewable industries, to provide world class new educational facilities that can transform Dunfermline as a place of learning and create new family housing that will provide high quality homes for our workforce and others. By keeping one third of the site as green space, we aim to help facilitate one of Scotland’s biggest and best new park areas.”

“This is about delivering investment and moving forward. The Halbeath site can be transformed from a symbol of disappointment, to an exciting vision of the potential, vibrancy and future of Fife. We are hugely impressed by all of the people that we have met and by the support that we’ve received. By working together we are convinced that we can help attract further investment and jobs for Dunfermline and Fife.”

The application has been submitted to Fife Council who will now have to consider the application and masterplan and decide whether or not to  give the mixed use proposals the go ahead.