A GROCERY giant has announced its intention to create a new supermarket in a dilapidated area of Kirkcaldy.

And the plan by Morrisons could bring hundreds of jobs to the Lang Toun.

The company revealed this week that it has signed up with Invertiel Developments to provide a new 36,000 sq ft sales area supermarket on the former B&Q site at Invertiel in west Kirkcaldy, which will provide around 330 jobs.

The announcement is a significant coup for plans to regenerate the Invertiel and Linktown area. The proposed supermarket, together with a petrol station and car parking, will form the first phase of a larger plan for the area including retail, housing and offices, as well as Stagecoach's planned hovercraft terminal.

Andrew Wood, development executive for Morrisons, emphasised preference of the Invertiel site over the available space at the planned Mercat expansion.

He said: "We are committed to bringing our fresh food offering to Kirkcaldy and, having reviewed all potential opportunities, the Invertiel site is the only location we are considering.

"We believe it is the best location for a new supermarket in the area, delivering the right size of store to serve the wider community of Invertiel, Linktown and Kirkcaldy.

"We know that Fife Council places a high level of priority on job creation and by working with the Council and other agencies, we aim to ensure that job opportunities created by the new store will have a specific focus on unemployed people in the local community."

Joe Noble, spokesman for Invertiel Developments Ltd, said: "Morrisons has identified that the Invertiel site is the only location which is suitable for the facilities it needs to invest in Kirkcaldy and, most significantly, is deliverable.

"We have received over 110 letters of support for our proposals to date, many of which have come from long-term unemployed residents in the area who are really keen to hear more about job opportunities at the new store."

The development is currently dependent on planning consent from Fife Council.

The Council received an application in November of last year from Invertiel Developments for planning permission in principle to demolish the existing B&Q building at Invertiel and erect the new building, with associated car parking, petrol station and access in its place.

The planning application has attracted 36 objections online from High Street retailers located in the Mercat, as well as Kirkcaldy Town Centre Management, but has also gathered 112 statements of support from local people.

Invertiel Developments also held open days in the Philp Hall on Links Street to make local people aware of the plans.

Work will commence on site within months of Fife Council granting consent and it is expected that recruitment for the new store will start in the early part of the year.