Budget store given OK for plant centre

Anew B&M store including a garden centre has been given the green light by planners for Glenrothes.

The budget retail giant will now push on with its proposal to transform the former Buzz Bingo building in Flemington Road, just metres from its current, smaller store.

B&M Retail Ltd bought the property in January 2021 ahead of the bingo venue announcing it was to close just two months later.

Expanding into bigger premises will provide approximately 60 full and part-time jobs, with all existing staff transferring to the new store.

The expansion will involve turning the bingo hall car park into an external garden centre.

Despite the loss of some parking due to the garden centre, the proposal includes retaining 68 spaces in front of the store.

A further 85 spaces for customers will be retained at the rear of the property.

In its approval, Fife Council has stipulated a minimum of 10 disabled parking spaces and at least four charging points must be provided for electric vehicles.

B&M, which has more than 650 stores in the UK, indicated in its original planning application that it was keen to expand its operations in the town stating that “a bigger space was needed”.

It added: “Despite the store trading well, the reduced size limits the

company’s ability to offer its full product range.”

In his approval of the plans Derek Simpson, head of planning at Fife Council, said the bigger shop “would be of economic benefit to the area”.

He also added the development will not have detrimental impacts on the operation of other commercial premises on the wider secondary shopping area or roads.

In addition the move into

the vacant bingo hall will respect the character and appearance of the building and its surroundings.

With approval now granted the development is expected to be finished before the end of the year.

GROWTH: The Buzz Bingo building will make way for a larger B&M with garden centre.