Controversial changes to Cupar retail park plans given green light

The developer has been given permission for professional services – such as vets and health centres – to be based at the retail park, on South Road, even though concerns have been raised that those businesses could be based in the town centre instead.

Councillor Tony Miklinski made that point during the meeting, noting that there is vacant space in Cupar’s town centre. Fife Council’s own Town Centres Development team had also noted that the plans could create a ‘mini-hub centre’, drawing activity from the town centre.

However, councillors were told that the likely tenants were businesses that already had multi-location agreements with landlords, and would be unlikely to be interested in moving into the town centre. They were also told the reduction in retail space could bring more business to the town centre.

All councillors approved the motion.

Councillors also gave the developer the green light to construct a mini-roundabout at the entrance to the site before public use of the retail park – the previous approval stated that the developer must build the new mini-roundabout before work started on constructing the retail park.

Councillor Miklinski said the roundabout “generates a lot of concern in Cupar”.

Sustainable Cupar voiced its concerns prior to the meeting, noting its objections to the plans and calling on councillors to defer a decision.

Cllr Miklinski asked that the local councillors be part of the approval process, when the decision is made on the final mini-roundabout plans.

It was noted that the developer had come to an agreement with Tesco, which means it will be able to use the supermarket’s access road to get to the retail park site for construction.

Council officers said this could shave five months off the road works during the building of the roundabout.

All councillors approved the application.