Fife Council delays Home Bargains plans at Dunlin Drive

It'll be third time lucky if they get the green light as both Fife Council and the Scottish Government previously rejected proposals to build on a "long term vacant" site at Dunlin Drive.

The company submitted fresh plans in June - and there are 151 letters of support - but there have been delays with the local authority submitting three separate requests for extra time to determine the application.

The last one said the council would need until October 10 but that passed without a decision being taken and there's no date for when it will be.

Mary Stewart, planning service manager at the council, said: "There are some outstanding issues with the proposal, which the case officer is working to resolve.

"The application will be determined by committee once the assessment has been completed, but the date when the application will be considered has not yet been identified."

There's already a Home Bargains store at Carnegie Drive Retail Park in Dunfermline. Now there are plans for a second outlet at Dunlin Drive. (Image: Google Maps) READ MORE: Having a ball for wee Jamie raises £20,000 for schoolboy's treatment

The refreshed proposals from TJ Morris Ltd - the parent company - are for a shop of 1,951 square metres in size and four smaller 'neighbourhood' units which would create 52 full-time jobs.

The new retail centre would have 91 parking spaces, including electric vehicle charging spaces, as well as 12 cycle spaces and a new pedestrian pathway.

If the plans are approved - councillors on the west and central planning committee will make the decision, which could be at their next meeting on November 20 - it will be the second Home Bargains store in the city, adding to the outlet on Carnegie Retail Park.

The application has certainly attracted interest with 46 objections and 151 letters of support.

The council said they were aware that many of the letters of support were similarly worded - a website about the Home Bargains plans has a section for supporters to add their details and submit a letter of support to the local authority - but added it wasn't a problem.

Ms Stewart said: "The number of comments or objections received is not material to the assessment process.

"The material issues raised are considered regardless of whether they have been made by one person or many."

The council previously refused £10m plans for a Home Bargains store at the Dunlin Drive site in September 2022.

The application included an outdoor garden centre and it was rejected on the grounds that the development would have a detrimental impact on existing and future trade in the city centre.

At that time there were 173 objections and 30 comments of support and an appeal to the Scottish Government failed in June last year.

After holding public consultations in February, TJ Morris came forward with their new plans and said: “The general sense from the public exhibition was that the public are keen for investment in the area, including job creation and some individuals liked the idea of having smaller neighbourhood retail units and increased planting.”

It would represent a £6m investment in this part of Dunfermline and they added: "The proposed development will have a number of significant economic benefits for the surrounding area and region.”