Lidl aim to build store at old King Malcolm Hotel site

Leaflets have been posted to residents in the Pitcorthie area about proposals to build a store on Laburnum Road.

If approved they'll flatten the old King Malcolm Hotel, which closed in 2020 and is now derelict, and replace it with a new Lidl supermarket with an in-store bakery and 91 parking spaces.

The firm said: "Lidl Scotland are delighted to be bringing forward an application to develop a new discount foodstore in the Pitcorthie area of Dunfermline, located at the former King Malcolm Hotel on Laburnum Road.

This is what the new Lidl store in Pitcorthie could look like. (Image: Lidl)

"The proposals include the erection of a new foodstore and associated access, landscaping and parking.

"Lidl have been seeking opportunities to open a store in Dunfermline for many years with the nearest existing store being in Cowdenbeath and plans to bring forward a store at Admiralty Road, Rosyth."

Back in May the retailer said they were looking to open new stores in Dunfermline North and Dunfermline South.

In a surprise move last month Lidl announced they had bought the site in Rosyth - plans for a supermarket there had dragged on for years - and now they have designs on Pitcorthie.

If it goes ahead the store will be just under 2,000 square metres in size, it will have a bakery, customer toilets and the parking spaces will include disabled bays, parent and child spaces, charging points for electric vehicles and provision for cyclists.

Pedestrian access would be from Queensferry Road and Laburnum Road and the proposed opening hours are 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

Local councillor, Cara Hilton, said: "It would be good to see some signs of progress with the site as the King Malcolm has lain derelict for a while now and residents have been keen to see the site cleared and brought back into use.

"It's been an eyesore in the community, there have been reports of anti-social behaviour and I know the community council were struggling to get in touch with the owners to get the building maintained.

"It would be good for consumers too, and give them more choice.

"There's been talk about a Lidl and M&S at Halbeath for quite a while and we haven't seen any progress on either.

"The location at Queensferry Road is probably much better as Halbeath is quite saturated for supermarkets and shops."

It's not yet clear if Lidl are still keen to be part of the proposals for Halbeath Retail Park.

Planning permission for a nine-store extension, including a new supermarket for the discount retailer and an M&S Foodhall, among others, was granted in 2017 but not a brick has been laid.

Lidl may also benefit from future transportation improvements as the Western Distributor Road, a new bypass to serve housing estates to the west of the city, is set to connect to the King Malcolm roundabout and bring more potential customers by their store.

Cllr Hilton said: "There is that, plus there will be work at the roundabout and the Gateway to Dunfermline, the South Dunfermline Community Council are taking forward those plans, which will make it look more attractive."

We have asked Lidl for comment.