Work on £8m Cupar retail park to get under way before end of the year

Stores including B&M and Burger King lined up for South Road site

Work on an £8 million retail park in Cupar that will create more than 180 jobs will get under way in November.

Variety retailer B&M has also been named as the anchor tenant for the development at the market town’s South Road.

It comes after councillors on the north-east Fife planning committee rubber-stamped changes to planning conditions and consent for the site at the end of last month.

B&M has pre-let the largest unit for its store and accompanying garden centre, while pre-lets have also been agreed with tanning chain Indigo Sun and fastfood drive-through Burger King.

A national coffee chain, which has not yet been identified, is understood to be in talks over another unit, while four others are still up for grabs in the 47,800-square-foot development.

The plans are being progressed by London and Scottish Developments, part of Glasgow- based London and Scottish Property Investment Management.

Some locals have expressed concerns that the retail park could draw people away from town centre shops and businesses.

However, Andy Richardson, director at London and Scottish Developments, reckons it will have the opposite effect.

He said: “This site has lain undeveloped for many years and we are delighted to have worked with Fife Council to regenerate it to meet modern occupier demands.

“This new and exciting retail outlet, with its good parking and open-plan, modern accommodation not available elsewhere in the town, will complement Cupar’s existing High Street offer.

“This site represents the latest in a series of successful retail developments.

“In addition to securing planning consent recently for developments in Barrhead and Crieff, we have previously completed retail parks at Cowdenbeath, Aviemore, Cumbernauld and Paisley.”

The development will create up to 140 retail jobs as well as 40 construction jobs during the build and fit-out stages.

Builders should be on site in November ahead of an estimated completion date in August next year.

The new retail outlet will complement Cupar’s High Street. ANDY RICHARDSON, LONDON AND SCOTTISH DEVELOPMENTS

An artist’s impression of the new retail park to be built at South Road, Cupar.