A seven-century old monastery could be converted into a tourist hostel in a drive to regenerate Inverkeithing town centre.
The Hospitium of the Grey Friars – known as the Friary – is at the heart of a renewed bid for £3 million of lottery and government cash to improve the town’s “rich but neglected” heritage.
Initial applications to Historic Environment Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund were rejected.
Fife Council hopes a revised bid will find favour so it can begin a £4.3m programme over five years to improve the conservation area.
The local authority wants Inverkeithing to follow Cupar, Kirkcaldy and Anstruther in being awarded grants under the Conservation Area Regenaration Scheme and Townscape Heritage initiative.
If successful, it also intends to refurbish the Town House for enhanced community use, improve other key spaces and offer repair grants to building owners.
Councillor Alice McGarry, convenor of the council’s south and west Fife area committee, said: “This is an exciting project with much to look forward to.
“I’m particularly pleased about the proposal for the Friary. It would be unfortunate if, after 700 years, the Friary was allowed to crumble on our watch.”
Those behind the bid have responded to feedback from the funding bodies, which included a desire for viable end uses of the buildings involved to be confirmed.
An appraisal of the Friary, which was remodelled in the 17th century, is to look at creating high-quality hostel accommodation on the upper floors, which are vacant, and retaining community access to the ground floor.
It could become a stopping point for walkers on the Fife Pilgrims Way, a 70-mile walking route being developed from Culross and South Queensferry to St Andrews.
Mrs McGarry said: “This is a much better plan and there is the opportunity to fine tune it.”
Chris Wragg, the council’s economic adviser for economy, tourism and town centres, said: “The Inverkeithing project will work with a range of partners to improve the rich but neglected heritage in the town centre conservation area, one of Scotland’s first royal burghs on the Fife Pilgrims Way, in sight of the UNESCO Forth Bridge World Heritage Site.
“It will enhance the town centre offering, making it better equipped to attract and retain visitors and support those that live and work there.”
Decisions on funding are expected next May for Townscape Heritage and next August for CARS.
It is anticipated the earliest the programme would begin is April 2019.
