Councillors have backed the transformation of an iconic Cupar building into a holiday home to make money for community projects.
Once the civic heart of the town, the Burgh Chambers has lain empty for years.
A plan to convert the Fife Council-owned property for let to holidaymakers won the approval of north-east Fife councillors, who heard profits would go to the Cupar common good fund.
They will recommend that the proposal by Fife Historic Buildings Trust and the council is given the go-ahead by the council’s executive committee.
Transformation of the near 200-year-old pink building on the corner of St Catherine Street and Crossgate, which houses the town clock, will be carried out over the next two years.
It will form part of the town’s lottery and Historic Scotland-funded Townscape Heritage Initiative and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.
Cupar councillor Bryan Poole said: “This is probably one of the most important buildings in Cupar and it has been empty for years and years.
“We need to do something with it, otherwise it could end up becoming another gap site.
“If it’s not invested in, it could end up having to be knocked down.
“It’s not an easy building to get into and I think the option brought forward is probably the best option and it can work.”
A holiday let was one of three options investigated, the others being offices and mid-marketing housing, but the first and second storey property’s steep staircase restricted its potential use.
A report by corporate asset management lead professional Mike McArdle said the unusual building, which has shop units on its ground floor outwith council ownership, was likely to prove popular with visitors and 50% occupancy is expected.
The project echoes that of Kinghorn Town Hall, where a holiday apartment was created during its renovation by Fife Historic Buildings Trust in 2009.
If the use is found to be unviable, the Burgh Chambers would be transferred to the council’s housing service.
Picture by David Wardle