From a carbuncle to a crowning glory, Lochgelly is now officially Scotland’s most improved town.
The former mining town secured the title at the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF) awards ceremony in Glasgow late last year.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the settlement, which had fallen on hard times to the point it had been shortlisted for the unenviable Plook on the Plinth award for most dismal town, and in 2004 was dubbed “Britain’s worst place to live”.
But determination prevailed. Years of careful regeneration captured it the prestigious award delivered by SURF, in partnership with the Scottish Government, to celebrate the achievements of initiatives which address physical, social and economic challenges.
Its achievements include a stunning facelift for a historic building, and the welcoming of new tenants into affordable housing in a brand new complementary development.
The grade B listed Lochgelly Town House received a makeover and was converted into four flats, while the area around it was developed into affordable housing, with 12 new flats welcoming new tenants, making 16 new homes in all.
In 2010,  world-renowned planning expert Andres Duany led a ground-breaking charrette to redevelop the town over the coming decades.
One of the key recommendations in the regeneration programme was to develop the area around the former Town House for housing.
Now those homes in the new council development in the Hall Street area are welcoming their first tenants.
The 16 affordable-home complex is made up of 12 new flats and the conversion of the historic Town House into four flats, retaining a number of the original features of the building.
The Town House will be managed by Ore Valley Enterprises with the new builds looked after by Fife Council.
During the regeneration process, the Town House got a whole new lease of life.
The work, carried out by Fife Council building services, has involved sensitive restoration which has retained and restored many of the original features of the building.
Sensitive restoration
Photographic records, obtained by the architect dating back to the early 1900s were used during the restoration work to replace and repair the stonework, remove and reinstate the timber wall panelling in the old committee rooms, which was a particular challenge, and specialist plaster repair work to the ornate plaster ceilings, coving and mouldings throughout the interior of the building.
Housing and building services spokeswoman Judy Hamilton said: “The restoration is an excellent example of the high quality work being carried out by Fife Council building services.
“The Town House was in very serious disrepair with dry rot throughout and significant areas that had collapsed.
“During the restoration the team faced major challenges to reconstruct the stairwell, the old committee rooms and the roof,with  joiners working meticulously from photographs to deliver the fabulous finish we can see now.
“The roof has been completely reconstructed using specially selected slate and the dome section required special heritage approval.
“The new double-glazed sash and case windows were custom-made and installed by Fife Council’s joiners workshop.
“It’s wonderful to see the building proudly restored to its former glory, and because it is a landmark building in the town centre its reinstatement helps to generate pride in the community and confidence in the local economy.”
Brand new homes
She said the site has more than 20 new build homes, in addition to the regeneration of the Town House, which would contribute to providing warmer, drier, healthier homes and help to reduce fuel poverty and improve living standards for residents.
She added that the Lochgelly development contributed towards the local authority’s wider commitment of delivering 2,700 new affordable homes by May 2017.
Leeanne Clark was already living in Lochgelly, and on the Fife housing register, looking for her own property as she wanted independent living.
She moved into her new Hall Street home in November and is very pleased with her new surroundings.
She said: “I am very excited with my new home.
“My birthday was two days before I received the offer and it was the best present ever.”
