Kirkcaldy is set to benefit from millions of pounds of regeneration cash, hailed as a landmark opportunity for the town.
The UK Government funding, announced last month, will be used to improve the town centre and waterfront.
And three key opportunities have already been suggested – a hotel, improved housing and a ferry service.
They are described by the council’s Kirkcaldy area convener, Councillor Ian Cameron, as “a triumvirate that would make a radical difference”.
He says: “It’s Kirkcaldy’s turn.”
While the exact allocation is not yet clear, Fife Council has already appointed leading firms Collective Architecture and Montagu Evans to draw up a masterplan.
And the public is to be given a “meaningful voice” in shaping the town’s future through a series of engagement activities.
Here’s what’s already on the cards.
1. Budget hotel or housing for Kirkcaldy waterfront
Kirkcaldy waterfront is in dire need of some TLC.
Looking out to sea with the town behind you, it’s lovely.
However, turn around and you’re faced with two ugly multi-storey car parks and a swimming pool demolition site.
Permission is already in place to raze the car parks but what replaces them is key.
Mr Cameron wants to see either a budget hotel or a mixed development of housing and commercial units.
“At the moment anyone looking for a budget hotel in Fife has to go to Glenrothes or Dunfermline,” he says.
“Something like that here would give visitors a place to stay.
“We’re working with a company to produce an app that will tell Kirkcaldy’s story, including three tourist trails.
“That will give people a reason to come and stay in Kirkcaldy.
“Another possibility is a mix of private housing and mid-market rentals.
“That would attract people with a bit of money to spend in the town centre.”
2. Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh ferry service
The possibility of a ferry or hovercraft between Kirkcaldy and Leith has been on the table for a couple of years.
More than 32,000 passengers took part in a 2007 trial, which saw cross-Forth trips take just 18 minutes.
However, the idea appeared to have sailed into the sunset never to return – until recently.
A feasibility study is well under way and Mr Cameron says it could actually happen thanks to the latest funding boost.
“The potential of that is significant,” he says.
“The ferry could be used by commuters to get to jobs.
“If we get the hotel, tourists and visitors would also use it to get to and from Edinburgh for the day.”
3. Kirkcaldy housing regeneration
According to Mr Cameron, regenerating housing in the west of Kirkcaldy is vital.
It would bring the opportunity to improve health, which could in turn boost the economy.
“We have some real problems around public health in places like the Links,” the Labour councillor says.
“People are dealing with some real challenges and we need to be radical in what we do.
“I went to Granton, which was having similar issues, and they’re addressing it with housing-led regeneration.
“Coming in from the Kinghorn side, the land at the Links overlooking the waterfront is great.
“There’s a real opportunity for us, especially with the housing market overheating in Edinburgh.
“People could move here and commute to work by ferry.”
Conversation