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Kinghorn residents protest against new council flats

August 1 2014

Kinghorn residents protest against new council flats
A bid by Fife Council and Campion Homes to build 27 affordable homes on the site of a former care home in the coastal village of Kinghorn has hit stormy waters after locals branded the scheme ‘overbearing’.

Oliver + Robb Architects have submitted plans for a ‘terraced street front’ with car parking and amenity spaces to the rear on the main road site.

Finished in facing brick and wet dash render with ‘lightweight panels’ facing a series of cantilevered stair cores the scheme is being touted as ‘complimenting its immediate surroundings in terms of scale, massing, materials and aesthetic.”

One of those to sign an online petition was Ian Archibald who wrote: “As a historic royal burgh Kinghorn deserves the very highest standards of design. The development of this structure will have a negative effect on the historic integrity of the town and will impact on the character of the conservation area. New build should preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area which this design fails to do.”

In their design statement ORA say: “The submitted proposals consist of a three storey terraced block, broken up by expressed stair cores along the length of Bruce Street. This adds visual interest to the mass whilst also acting as ‘markers’ for the entrances. The change in material also identifies between the private and semi-public spaces.”
Fofe Council stress that there is a shortage of affordable housing in the region
Fofe Council stress that there is a shortage of affordable housing in the region
Residents claim there has been no effective consultation over the plans
Residents claim there has been no effective consultation over the plans

2 Comments

Sven
#1 Posted by Sven on 1 Aug 2014 at 16:47 PM
To be fair the flats look like many new or renovated council home built since 1990. They could be built in Easterhouse, Drumchapel, Sighthill or Wester Hailes and you would not notice the difference. Could Fife Council make them more 'Fife vernacular' with a nod to Crow Steps, and gables and therefore more attractive and local, of course yes.

On saying Kinghorn has a lot of crap looking council housing already - you just have to drive down its High Street, so it is hardly a preserved Fife fishing village either.
Herbert List
#2 Posted by Herbert List on 5 Aug 2014 at 14:46 PM
They've really celebrated the corner...

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