PLANS for a new leading supermarket chain and football pitch in Rosyth have been approved.

The Press previously reported that cut-price food retailer Lidl wanted to build a store in the town by flattening the derelict Yard pub next to the football pitch where Rosyth FC’s junior team currently play.

Members of Fife Council's west planning committee approved the application on Wednesday with the agreement requiring Lidl to find the team somewhere else to play.

A statement from Fife Council in September said the new pitch, in the bottom right-hand corner of the Fleet Grounds, next to Wilson Way, would not be ready until early October this year, meaning the club would stay at Recreation Park, off Admiralty Road – where they have played since 1992 – until it is complete.

It will likely require the club to switch their fixtures at the start of the 2018/19 season and play games away from home instead.

The vacant site in Rosyth was sold to Fife Council by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for £133,000 in 2014.

In August 2016, the council then sanctioned the sale of part of the club’s pitch for a supermarket development.

A report to their executive committee explained: “The council has received an offer to purchase part of Recreation Park, Rosyth, from a developer seeking to construct a supermarket with ancillary car-parking on part of the existing football pitch and on the adjacent privately-owned site, formerly The Yard public house.

“As only part of the council-owned pitch is required for the retail scheme, the balance of the site offers potential for development of housing, subject to receipt of the necessary statutory consents.”

No work will begin on site until a binding contract has been submitted to Fife Council concerning the replacement pitch.

The proposed Lidl store would see 35 new full- and part-time jobs created, with the customer car park comprising 123 parking spaces, including six disabled spaces, seven parent and child spaces and 15 dedicated to the adjacent taxi company.

Ahead of the decision, the council report recommending approval stated: “If the proposed discount foodstore is granted consent and developed, there is unlikely to be a material threat to the vitality and viability of the local centres in the primary catchment or Dunfermline town centre.

"The proposed discount foodstore would greatly raise the range and quality of convenience on offer in the Rosyth/Inverkeithing/North Queensferry area compared to the existing offer thereby, addressing a qualitative deficiency.”

One letter of support and one of objection were received in relation to the plans.

The objection raised concerns over a lack of affordable housing being proposed, a lack of need for a licensed retail unit and the impact the store would have on traffic.

Plans for the new football pitch with associated changing rooms, fencing and parking (32 spaces), were met with six letters of objection.

Fife Council’s recommendation report said: “On balance, the proposal is acceptable and in accordance with the Development Plan and relevant guidance subject to the planning conditions.”