Lidl is “delighted” to be granted planning permission for bigger store in Kirkcaldy

A new supermarket at the western gateway into Kirkcaldy has been given the go-ahead, despite a planning recommendation to refuse it.Lidl has been granted permission for a glass-fronted store with a sales area of 1424 square metres – an increase from 1286 square metres at its current outlet on the town’s Esplanade – opposite the Morrison’s supermarket.It will create 15 more jobs, doubling the current workforce of the store just a few hundred metres along the road.The move was granted by eightvotes to four, subject to a number of landscaping and environmental conditions at an emotion-packed meeting of the Fife central area planning committee on Wednesday – against the recommendation of planning officers.Planners had raised a number of reasons for refusal based on the application being contrary to the proposed Fife plan.They said it was within an area designated for residential, business or leisure and tourism and not for retail and it would not help to improve the western entrance gateway to the town with an attractive frontage as the car park would front onto the road.However, following a heartfelt speech by Councillor Neil Crooks, chairman of the Kirkcaldy area committee, he put forward a detailed motion for accepting the application, listing a number of conditions.And he said that the plans had the backing of Kirkcaldy4All, which promotes the town centre, as well as Kirkcaldy West Community Council, Invertiel Tenants and Residents and Linktown Tenants and Residents.He said a lot had already been achieved in the area through the Invertiel Forum, with the proposed site one of just two derelict pieces of land in the area still to be filled.The application received 11 letters of support from the public and one objection.Following the meeting Lidl expressed its delight at the decision.