Summary Report

Dunfermline is growing and has big questions about what kind of city it wants to be.

In January and February 2026, 31 people from across Dunfermline came together to answer the following question:

‘We all want Dunfermline to be a great place to call home.
As our city grows and develops, how do we continue to
improve our community for today and tomorrow’

They were ordinary residents, randomly selected to reflect the range of people who call this city home.

Over three weekends and 38 hours of conversation, they listened to experts, shared their own experiences, deliberated on what matters most, and worked together to produce something concrete: a shared vision for Dunfermline’s future, and 12 calls to action with specific recommendations for change.

This is a summary of what they decided. This is to accompany the full report which will be released in due course.

Download the report as a pdf

Our Vision

The Assembly produced a shared picture of what Dunfermline should look like in ten years’ time. This vision guides everything that followed and it belongs to everyone who took part.

By 2036, Dunfermline is a place where residents are proud to call home, people want to visit, and our heritage is appreciated and kept alive.

Dunfermline is a place that is thriving, inclusive and overflowing with exciting facilities for residents and tourists alike. Everyone has access to communications and is empowered to use them, supported by an active citizens’ assembly and an app regularly updated to keep residents and visitors informed and engaged.

Dunfermline is a place with accessible and inclusive indoor and outdoor spaces that promote skills and recreational development, bringing a sense of belonging and pride. Residents have easy access to the services and support they need, and no one is left behind.

Dunfermline is a place where young people feel safe, valued and heard. They have purpose-built spaces, a choice of affordable activities and entertainment, varied and sustainable job opportunities, and affordable homes with the infrastructure to support them.

Dunfermline is a place where people arrive easily through green and reliable transport, walk along clean and welcoming streets filled with independent shops and cafés, and hear the buzz of markets and community events. Our history is proudly on display, and people leave saying: “this is a city that feels safe, connected, vibrant and alive.” It is a place you do not only live in or visit – you experience it and belong to it.

Dunfermline is a place where a proud historic capital has become a welcoming city, confident in its identity and friendly in its character. Daily life flourishes, supported by a wide range of culture, leisure and business that serves residents and attracts visitors. By turning its heritage, ambition and events into investment, opportunity and sustainable growth, Dunfermline commands national and global interest.

The people of Dunfermline, through their citizens’ assembly, are the guardians of this vision – ensuring the city remains an enjoyable, vibrant and welcoming place for all who live here, work here or pass through.

Dunfermline is a place where we can call home,
Where the people in need don’t feel alone,
With many tourists young and old,
Making memories as precious as gold.

Our Calls to Action

From hundreds of ideas, the Assembly agreed on 12 calls to action: the changes they believe will improve our community in Dunfermline. Some received unanimous or near-unanimous support and each is marked with a rounded level of support percentage below. This is not a wish list. It is the considered, informed judgement of residents who spent time together learning about the challenges, hearing from contributors, and testing their thinking against each other. The calls to action are listed in priority order as determined by the Assembly’s vote.

Dunfermline needs to:

Provide support and facilities for young people to find and explore new skills, opportunities and entertainment within the city centre (100% support)
Develop and disseminate a Dunfermline App that caters to residents first (100% support)
Create a clear communications strategy for all, including digital, physical and relational methods (100% support)
Involve local residents in decision-making and communicate well about plans for development (97% support)
Create a cleaner, greener, safer and more welcoming city centre with a unique and distinctive identity drawing on our history and cultural heritage (97% support)
Create a clear strategy to capitalise on its rich history and heritage (97% support)
Have a green, reliable and integrated transport network connecting local residents to both the city centre and the outside world (97% support)
Bring citizens together to build inclusive communities through greater engagement, communication, understanding and actions (97% support)
Revise its policies to stimulate the setting up and sustaining of independent businesses (93% support)
Provide more activities and events that involve all residents within KY11, KY12 and KY4 (90% support)
Provide career and employability support to grow the local job market (90% support)
Produce a monthly flyer on what’s happening (84% support)

Our Recommendations

Behind each call to action sits a set of specific recommendations – practical steps that the Assembly believes would turn each priority into reality. These were developed by the members themselves, refined across multiple sessions, and shaped by everything they heard and discussed. They are addressed to Fife Council, the City of Dunfermline Area Committee, local organisations, and in some cases all of us.

Dunfermline needs to provide support and facilities for young people to find and explore new skills, opportunities and entertainment within the city centre (100% support)

Provide multi-purpose, inclusive indoor and outdoor spaces designed, maintained, managed and staffed by young people, and supported by appropriate adults for teaching and mentoring. Places to consider include the old post office, Glen Pavilion and other suitable vacant properties.
Offer vocational and life skills training and mentoring with a recognisable qualification or reference on completion. Skills could include money management, trades, social media, growing food and testing business initiatives.
Include flexible space for a variety of entertainment, with the options decided by young people – for example, hangout spaces, a live music venue, quiet spaces and sensory spaces.

Dunfermline needs to develop and disseminate a Dunfermline App that caters to residents first (100% support)

Link to or mirror local websites such as www.dunfermline.com
Use an organised format rather than a single feed, built up over time to prioritise essential information first and allow greater interactivity as it develops.
Content should include upcoming events with links to venues, local business information, local news, roadworks, contact details for services and organisations, classes and activities, job and volunteer opportunities, local development plans and opportunities to engage with them (see also calls to action X and X), information on Community Hubs, local history, a suggestion and question submission system, and a local forum – “Dunfermline Matters” – with the option to share hyperlocal opportunities.

Dunfermline needs to create a clear communications strategy for all, including digital, physical and relational methods (100% support)

Establish a physical Community Hub and make use of existing Community Centres as places where residents can find information about services, ask questions, suggest ideas, and meet and talk to councillors.
Install screens around town to share information and upcoming events.
Provide a “Welcome to Dunfermline” guide containing key information for all residents of new builds, and make it available to existing residents both physically and online.

Dunfermline needs to involve local residents in decision-making and communicate well about plans for development (97% support)

Introduce a requirement to involve and consider the public voice in all appropriate decision-making, reaching out to individuals, local groups and businesses. Share a response after every consultation to increase transparency.
Enable easy engagement and access to information about agreed plans through a mixed-media, inclusive approach – including the Dunfermline App, the monthly flyer, Community Hubs and consultation with local groups mentioned in other recommendations.
The Citizens’ Assembly should continue to meet annually, with 50% participant turnover, to review progress, make further recommendations, and enable more residents to benefit from the deliberative process.

Dunfermline needs to create a cleaner, greener, safer and more welcoming city centre with a unique and distinctive identity drawing on our history and cultural heritage (97% support)

Develop dynamic branding centred around Dunfermline’s history and cultural heritage.
Create a distinctive streetscape incorporating bespoke street furniture, upgraded lighting, interactive murals and QR codes connected to free city centre Wi-Fi – allowing visitors and residents to engage with historical and contemporary figures telling Dunfermline’s story.
Enforce pedestrianisation of the high street during specific times to increase footfall and support local businesses.
Form a rapid response team to address graffiti, vandalism and litter in the city centre, encouraging local businesses to be part of the solution.

Dunfermline needs to make a clear strategy to capitalise on its rich history and heritage (97% support)

Develop immersive and interactive activities at historical sites – for example, using augmented reality to visualise the Abbey in its prime, and bringing to life the stories of figures such as Carnegie, Wallace and Bruce.
Actively promote Dunfermline as a regional destination for tourists.
Establish a vibrant, well-promoted series of themed events to attract visitors, such as a Bruce Festival.

Dunfermline needs to have a green, reliable and integrated transport network connecting local residents to both the city centre and the outside world
(97% support)

Provide safe, reliable, regular and subsidised bus travel for all residents regardless of age, available seven days a week across all areas, including night buses.
Develop an enhanced walking and cycling network, including the introduction of “Bruce’s Bikes” – a dockless electric bike rental scheme.
Improve parking infrastructure, including an EV charging network and free parking after 3pm and all day Sunday.

Dunfermline needs to bring citizens together to build inclusive communities through greater engagement, communication, understanding and actions
(97% support)

Raise awareness of what is available on people’s doorsteps through better communication channels – providing information about local activities and services in accessible formats including an app, newsletter, braille and others as required.
Council planners and developers should work together to create community hubs, promote inclusion, and offer access to schools and businesses for intergenerational skills exchange, reciprocal mentorship and volunteering opportunities.
Equip front-facing health and social care workers with up-to-date knowledge of available services, so they can better support everyone who comes to them for help.

Dunfermline needs to revise its policies to stimulate the setting up and sustaining of independent businesses (93% support)

Make it simpler and more straightforward for people to get advice, support and responses to their ideas – using plain language, streamlined policy, a start-up shop and clear signposting to business support services.
Create a platform for local business owners, residents and the council to discuss local priorities together, inspired by the principles of the former Business Improvement District (BID).
Collate and share sources of financial support that are specific to Dunfermline – local funding opportunities that are not always visible on regional or national platforms such as Business Gateway.

Dunfermline needs to provide more activities and events that involve all residents within KY11, KY12 and KY4 (90% support)

Create a calendar of organised, inclusive events across Dunfermline such as fireworks displays, comedy pop-ups and community celebrations.
Make use of vacant units to host local arts, leisure, culture and sports events affordably.
Remove the barriers that prevent people from taking part in local activities – for example, by providing childcare facilities, free parking after 3pm and free all-day Sunday parking.

Dunfermline needs to provide career and employability support to grow the local job market (90% support)

Create a hub that facilitates training and skills development for the local job market.
Establish a network of mentors and peers to share knowledge and experience, and inspire creative ideas for the future of work in Dunfermline.
Promote work and life experience opportunities through volunteering, to build local belonging and confidence.

Dunfermline needs to produce a monthly flyer on what’s happening (84% support)

The flyer should include upcoming events and activities, as well as development plans and opportunities for residents to engage with them (see also calls to action 4 and 6).
It should draw on content from the Dunfermline App, making that information accessible to residents who are less comfortable with technology.
The first edition should be distributed to all residents, introducing both the App and the flyer and explaining where future editions will be available. Thereafter, the flyer should be available through local shops, transport hubs, GP surgeries, schools, colleges, community hubs, leisure centres, post offices and libraries.

The Assembly has set a course of action. These recommendations now go to decision-makers at Dunfermline Area Committee who will formally respond to each one. This report is publicly available so that every resident can follow progress, get involved to support action on the recommendations, and hold decision-makers to account. Dunfermline spoke. Now it is time to act.

Reflections from Assembly Members

‘I would really like to see Dunfermline to be prosperous, there for everyone, clean, tidy environment, prospects for all my grandkids and I suppose to be proud’ Hazel

‘being in different groups and meeting new people and hearing different opinions’ . Rudi

‘I hope it’s going to be introduced to the wider population so everybody will have the chance to voice their concerns and ideas.’ Kornel

‘We all want to share a bit of the growth for this amazing city that we live in’ Rafael