Cupar is one of just four places in Scotland to win unique Change Award funding and support – all backing plans for a unique community hub focused on food.
The support – through the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’ programme, developed in partnership with and funded by the Williamson Trust – is enabling Cupar Development Trust to lead on a 12-month Strategic Review that will look at the future of the town’s County Buildings
In 2025, with support from the RSE’s Catalyst Award and Fife Council, the Trust developed an outline business case for the Cupar Food Station, a food-themed enterprise and welfare hub.
The Trust now hopes to build on the momentum and use the Change Award to establish a case for a community asset transfer with the Cupar Food Station at its core, enabling public, third sector and private entities to work together as part of a unique community hub.
James Hair, Chair of the Development Trust, explains: “The strategic review aims to demonstrate community support, organisational viability, and best value. Its findings will help shape a strategy – the aim of which will deliver long‑term social, economic, and environmental benefits for Cupar and its surrounding communities.” James adds: “The support from the RSE, Williamson Trust and Fife Council is enabling this project. The very future of our town centre is at its heart with close to 1.5 acres of the County Buildings site under review. We are heartened by the support we have received to date – not only from those funding our initiative but also from many local groups, organisations and charities who are backing our approach.”
In May, the Trust issued a competitive tender to appoint consultants. Cupar-based Arc Architects have been chosen to deliver the review. Tom Morton of Arc says: “We are delighted to have been appointed to such a prestigious and meaningful project. A great deal of work has been undertaken over the last four years – involving many community groups and volunteers. The coming 12 months will be critical is establishing the viability of the Trust’s aspiration as well as the future of one of the most iconic buildings in Fife.”
The Trust has created a Project Group. Initially, community partners and stakeholders from the private, public and 3rd sectors will be invited to contribute to the review before a wider consultation with residents across Cupar and the town’s catchment. James Hair adds: “We already have the support of more than 20 community groups. The consultation and engagement over the coming weeks and months will be critical – and we want to ensure all who wish to contribute to their review has the opportunity to do so. To that end, we will be publishing ongoing updates including how people will be able to feed in to the consultation process.”
The project is being branded as ‘Growing Cupar’s Future’ – taking account of the Food Station foundations together with the Trust’s remit for regeneration and community support. Future updates will be published through the Trust’s website and Facebook page and shared on community channels.