Application for planning permission made for new £180m Dunfermline 'super campus'

An application for planning permission has been made for the £180 million Dunfermline "super campus".

The proposed site is the Halbeath Interchange, in the east of the town.

It's intended for students from Fife College, as well as pupils from St Columa's and Woodmill High Schools, to be brought together at the same learning facility.

Shepherd Offshore have sent a proposal illustrating the site designations for use, including a 60 acre portion for educational buildings.

Fife College already owns a portion of land south of the Fife Leisure Park.

Fife Council plans to purchase additional adjacent land.

It's intended that the campus will be built by the autumn of 2024 to allow students to start studying from there from the 2024/25 academic year.

The college recently appointed their project management team for their new Dunfermline base.

A consultation is due to start by the local authority in the coming months on proposals to relocate the two schools.

Principal of Fife College Dr Hugh Hall said: "The Dunfermline Learning Campus will be a ground-breaking development for the Kingdom, and we’re incredibly excited at the prospect of what we can achieve on this site.

"We aim to create a truly collaborative learning environment for students of all ages that offers a wide range of opportunities.

"From senior school to further and higher education, and the provision of courses to meet the needs of business, we want to offer the stepping stones needed to allow students to achieve their personal and professional goals.

"We are determined to offer all learners, and the wider community, a fantastic learning environment in which to thrive.

"This planning application is a significant step in our journey to deliver a unique and modern learning campus for Fife.

"We look forward to updating everyone as the project progresses."

Executive Director of Education at Fife Council Carrie Lindsay said: "A joint campus will enable our young people to access courses, wider experiences and opportunities on a single campus.

"This is more than the schools on their own would ever be able to provide and will inevitably bring about improvement in attainment, employability skills and sustained, positive destinations for all young people.

"This is a really exciting prospect for the young people of Dunfermline but also across the whole of Fife as digital connections will allow the opportunities to have no geographical boundaries.

"We'll be carrying out a full consultation in our local communities in the new year to see how we can take this proposal forward."

Chairman of the Shepherd Offshore Group Bruce Shepherd OBE said: "We are absolutely delighted to support Fife College and File Council with such an exciting, innovative and ground breaking development which will create a world class learning environment for students of all ages and the wider community.

"The principals, executives, management and project teams at both the College and the Council deserve great credit as it is their passion, drive and commitment that has made this incredible project a reality."