Buckhaven Heritage Regeneration plans given major boost

Fife Council and Fife Historic Buildings Trust (FHBT) have been successful in their bids for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) for the development phase of the Buckhaven Heritage Regeneration Project, which aims to bring the historic town centre of Buckhaven back to life. 

Following on from similar projects in Inverkeithing, Cupar and Anstruther, the scheme will use heritage as a vehicle for promoting health and wellbeing, providing skills training and education opportunities, and increasing pride in and a sense of belonging to the local area.  

Fife Council and FHBT applied to the NLHF and HES to help pay for the initiative’s development phase, and grant awards totalling £170,000 have today been announced to ensure the project can progress. 

Funding will also come from Fife Council, the private sector and other sources, and it is hoped the project will see at least £3 million invested in Buckhaven over a five-year period. 

Councillor Colin Davidson, convener of Fife Council’s Levenmouth Area Committee, said: “This new project could be the best thing to happen to this area in the last 50 years – it’s a very exciting project. 

“There’s huge incentive for us to work together with the local community to regenerate the whole of Buckhaven and I can’t wait to see what’s planned.” 

A partnership approach will see those behind the project work with a wide cross-section of the local community to identify, safeguard and promote the heritage that is important to them through a series of linked projects: 

• Repairs and improvements to key community buildings to safeguard the heritage value, improve energy efficiency and climate resilience, and support their long-term sustainability. 
• A grant scheme (Community Grants) for privately owned traditional buildings to support repairs, energy efficiency and shopfront improvements. 
• Public realm and green space improvements in the historic centre of Buckhaven. 
• An ambitious traditional skills training, capacity building, and community heritage activities programme to engage with all sections of Buckhaven’s population, including those in the most disadvantaged communities. 

Christine May, Chair of Fife Historic Buildings Trust, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for Buckhaven, and we are looking forward to working in partnership with the community and Fife Council to explore the local heritage, discover the places and stories that are important to people, and develop a range of heritage projects that will support the town’s future.  

“For centuries Buckhaven played an important role in the economy of Fife and it will be great to bring that history to life.

“We are absolutely thrilled for Buckhaven, and we can’t wait to get started.” 

The project will now be developed further throughout 2023 and into early 2024 and, if project funders are supportive of the plans, the project will begin in autumn 2024 and will run until 2029. 

It is anticipated that more than 2,000 people will engage with the project through volunteering, training, activities, events and interpretation.