Lidl's new Kirkcaldy store on hold until 2019

How the new Lidl store in Kirkcaldy would look. Proposal to move along to former bus depot at west end of Esplanade

Lidl has confirmed that it won’t look at the project until 2019 – despite being granted planning permission to build opposite Morrisons in January 2017.

The news comes after a year of inactivity at the proposed site.

Lidl, which has a store a few hundred yards further along the Esplanade, planned to double the workforce in the move, and councillors were anticipating a presentation before construction work got underway.

But a spokesman for the discount retailer confirmed to the Press, its plans had changed.

He said: ‘‘At present we are focusing on the modernisation of our existing portfolio of stores and the building of new expansion stores.

‘‘We aim to begin the relocation of our Kirkcaldy store early in 2019.’’

>> More in a speciual feature in Thursday’s Fife Free Press as we update all the key town centre developments.