Lidl aim to open in Dunfermline North and Dunfermline South

They've published a "wish list" of desired locations where they want to build new outlets, the city is on it, and are seeking site suggestions.

The expansion plans - the discounter aims to open hundreds of new stores and create thousands of jobs across the UK - could see a further 67 stores in Scotland, including at 'Dunfermline North' and 'Dunfermline South'.

A Lidl spokesperson told the Press: "It is like a wish list of site requirements so the idea is that, hopefully, developers and landowners would put forward potential sites to Lidl.

Fife Council agreed to the sale of Recreation Park, home of Rosyth FC, in August 2016. The club moved out two years later to enable the new Lidl store to go ahead. It didn't. (Image: Newsquest)

"If they have a site available, the property team can discuss taking this further."

They're looking for sites that have easy access and strong pedestrian or traffic flow, in town or city centres, on the outskirts or in retail parks, with enough land for 100-plus parking spaces.

Requirements are more than 1.5 acres for standalone stores or up to four acres in mixed-use schemes.

Of course there have been long standing plans to open Lidl supermarkets in Dunfermline and Rosyth, but one hasn't progressed in the past seven years while the latter won't be going ahead at all after a long and controversial saga involving the local football club.

The Lidl spokesperson acknowledged: "We're aware there have been discussions about potential store sites in different areas of Dunfermline.

"One is developer-led, so we're not in a position to comment on that, and the Rosyth one ended up not going ahead."

Planning permission was granted in 2017 for an extension to Halbeath Retail Park, which is supposed to include a Lidl and an M&S Foodhall among others, but a brick has yet to be laid.

A commencement of development notice was submitted to the council in February 2023, raising hopes that the nine new shop units were on the way, but there's been little to no progress since then.

The suspicion is that it was a paper exercise, as making an official start on site means the planning permission will continue for another three years.

Asked for an update this week on the extension, the retail park owners, Royal London, said they "won’t be able to comment at this stage".

And Lidl checked out of Rosyth, shelving plans which have been talked about since at least 2013.

Their new store off Admiralty Road was supposed to open in 2025 but in December last year they confirmed they would "not be progressing".

To pave the way for Lidl, the council gave notice to Rosyth FC to quit their Recreation Park ground.

The club vacated the site in 2018 and were supposed to get a replacement pitch and facilities elsewhere in the town but ended up being homeless for six years.

Eventually a deal was struck for Rosyth FC to play at a new pitch at Pitreavie but that fell apart in February and the club folded.

It's not clear what's now planned for the old Recreation Park site.

Elsewhere in Fife, Lidl want to open a new store in St Andrews and relocate their current store in Leven to a better site.