By Lars Niven

A HISTORIC factory in the heart of Dunfermline will be turned into flats, despite objections that the town could lose part of its industrial heritage.

Thornton-based Thomas Mitchell Homes were given the thumbs up yesterday by members of the Dunfermline Area Committee at their monthly meeting.

The house builder was granted listed planning consent to convert the former Victoria Works linen factory in Pilmuir Street into 24 homes. It also intends to build a further 160 flats in one three-storey block and six four-storey blocks on the adjacent site.

Nine letters of objection were received by the council, including a petition with 65 signatures on it.

The conversion involves the category B-listed building that fronts on to Pilmuir Street.

In a report prepared for the committee planning official Kevin Treadwell insisted the architectural integrity and restoration of the building had been secured.

“One defining feature of the site is the massive chimney stack which punctuates the city’s skyline,” he said.

“Through negotiations with the developer this landmark will be restored and retained as part of the development,” he added.

“Currently, a section has been removed by hand and stored at the base of the stack as it was deemed to be unsafe. It will be restored as part of the development.”

Historic Scotland were consulted and while they initially hoped the factory’s original weaving sheds could be saved, the watchdog body now accepted they would have to be sacrificed.

Mr Treadwell added, “It is acknowledged the demolition of the weaving sheds is considered to be a loss.

“This has to be taken in the overall context of the proposal and in favour of the development is that the vast majority of the architectural and historically important elements of the listed buildings are to be retained and brought back into a beneficial use which will safeguard their long-term future.

“The loss is therefore deemed to be reasonable by virtue of securing the viability of the remaining elements and safeguarding the listed building.

“The concerns of the objectors, whilst shared, are therefore not considered to outweigh the merits of the proposal.”