New Lidl supermarket approved for Kirkcaldy Esplanade

The new store, set to replace the chain’s legacy shop half a mile away at the junction of the Esplanade and School Wynd, will create up to 35 additional jobs.

Lidl says it has outgrown the old store, which opened in 2002, and would likely let it out to another retailer.

An opening date for the new supermarket is yet to be set while Lidl considers Fife Council’s 20 conditions for development.

"No objections were made to the plans by members of the public or statutory consultees.

The firm applied last year to renew the permission for the former bus depot site after its 2017 permit expired, making some minor changes to the plans to increase the shop’s footprint to 2290 sq metres and add electric vehicle charging points to the car park.

Fife Council planning officer Natasha Cockburn, assessing the application, said the previous approval had set a precedent which opened the way for the new store to be approved.

“The principle of the proposals have been established through (the previous) planning permission, so the principle of the use of the site as retail development is accepted,” she wrote in her assessment.

“In all respects the proposal is considered to be acceptable and in accordance with the (Fife) Development Plan and relevant guidance.”

Among the conditions imposed on the development with the approval are motions to encourage active travel. Lidl must include 10 covered cycling spaces somewhere in the car park, and has to issue staff at the store with a travel plan encouraging them to walk or cycle to work.

A Lidl spokeswoman said: “We are currently reviewing the conditions and look forward to sharing more information with the local community as soon as we are in a position to do so.”

Building work has already begun at the new site, with part of the structure already in place, opposite the Kirkcaldy branch of Morrisons.

It will be a welcome relief to many after the derelict site has been empty for so long.

Lidl has had an eye on the site for some time, with lockdown further delaying the development.