Eyesore hard-to-let flats in Townhill are to be torn down.
Local councillors gave the green light to bring down the properties from 4-10a Muir Road which, in the main, have been lying empty for many years.
City of Dunfermline area chairwoman Helen Law said: “Townhill people will be glad to see what has developed into an eyesore being taken away.”
Apart from one property which was bought back from the owner by Fife Council the remainder were either bedsit or one-bedroom flats.
Their size, and the unpopularity of the accommodation, meant they were often let to young single tenants often with chaotic lifestyles.
A report by council officer Alistair Black says this caused anti-social issues in the area, which consists mainly of family homes.
As a result, the flats have had vacancy problems since 2002.
In 2008, the housing service suggested demolishing the flats and selling the ground on the open market. But with the downturn in the housing market, it was back to the drawing board.
Then it was thought the building could be converted into two-bedroom houses at a cost of £300,000.
However, there was a protracted delay when the council negotiated to buy back one property.
But when an inspection of the block was carried out, major problems were found, including serious water leaks which had caused substantial damage to the foundations. There was also the likelihood of rising damp, wet and dry rot and woodworm.
It was feared there would be additional hidden costs. All this caused the cost of revamping the building to rise by £50,000.
That, coupled with the site’s narrow layout which left little room for gardens, drying areas and bin storage, caused a rethink.
Mr Black told councillors a new issue is the impact of the welfare reform legislation which means there is now a greater need for smaller one-bedroom homes.
All these issues supported the original idea of demolishing the block at a cost of £15,000.
The site will be grassed over as an interim measure.
Photo by David Wardle