Jobs boost pledge as developer plans Co-Op move, housing and studios on garden centre site

A planning application has been submitted to Fife Council to build houses, a convenience store and new creator studios on land which was once occupied by East Neuk Garden Centre in Crail.

The pitch for the St Andrews Road site comes from Edinburgh based Stone Acre Ventures Limited. If approved, it would see Crail’s Co-Op depart its High Street base into a modern new unit, 11 detached houses built, and a mixed use commercial development to be marketed as ‘Crail Creator Studios.’

The developer said the project would create jobs with “at least” 30 at the new Co-Op, and more via the studios.

The convenience store has been part of the High Street for many years, but Co-Op said it needs a new store to meet its current standards - it said that could not be delivered from its current base.

A planning statement, submitted a part of the application, said: “The proposed retail store is not large and would provide a top-up convenience shopping function.

“The size of store is not designed or capable of attracting main-food shopping trips as the range of goods provided and the number of retail lines is not large. The benefit of the proposed store is to ensure that the residents of Crail have ready access to a modern convenience store which provides essential day to day shopping needs. The current Co-op has served the community well over many years but it is becoming increasingly unfit for purpose and is difficult to operate and stock.”

Stone Acre Ventures said its intention was to develop the site “as soon as possible” once permissions were in place.

It added: “As there is a shortage of housing in the local market area and the land is brownfield in the urban area the proposed development is highly sustainable and much needed to reuse this vacant land in a sustainable manner.”

The former garden centre site has been on the market for a long period of time.

Councillors will consider the application in due course.