PLANS for a new £4million Aldi and family pub and restaurant in Dalgety Bay have taken another step forward.

Councillors had agreed the plans in January 2015, with a legal agreement – which will see Fife Council receive £50,000 as compensation for the loss of employment land – agreed in August.

Developers Scarborough Muir Group (SMG) has said that more than 100 jobs will be created on the four-acre site in Donibristle Industrial Estate, at the entrance to the town.

Now, more than a year on, the proposals have received planning permission in principle, paving the way for a detailed masterplan site layout to be drawn up.

SMG has owned the site on Ridge Way since 2008 and the plans include a 16,850 sq ft Aldi store, a Marston’s Inns pub/restaurant, a 10,000 sq ft commercial unit and 205 car-parking spaces.

The development will also have a drive-through coffee shop and a children's play area.

Fife Council wants a comprehensive site investigation to be carried out to ensure it is free of contamination. Other requirements include details of a public art strategy, including the level of investment.

Aldi is hoping to get a slice of the market dominated by Tesco and Asda – the annual turnover for their stores in the town is put at £13m and £20m respectively.

The Press reported in January last year that there had been fears the development could create a “second town centre” and draw customers away from existing shops.

Council service manager Mary Stewart admitted at the time that there was a “difficult balance between competing issues” but said the “economic benefits of the scheme are significant”.

The Press also told you that construction is due to start in the summer, with the retail units set to be trading by Christmas 2016.