The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cupar retail park given green light.
Shopping: Council official says other town businesses could see rise in footfall
A retail park in north-east Fife has been given the green light for construction.
Six large units for food and non-food retail and including a takeaway are to be built in Cupar, next door to the Tesco supermarket.
It is not yet known which retailers are likely to occupy the premises on South Road but it was previously indicated some well-known names had expressed interest.
Planning consent was issued yesterday for the retail park on land bought from Tesco by London and Scottish Investments in 2015.
Members of Fife Council’s north-east planning committee voiced concerns about road safety, particularly for children walking or cycling past the site to and from school, but gave unanimous approval.
Bryan Wilson, group development director of London and Scottish Developments, said the company was grateful for the committee’s decision and added: “We are looking forward to bringing this derelict site back to life with an exciting new retail development and will be making announcements about the programme and occupiers over the next few weeks.”
Tesco abandoned its plans to build a larger supermarket on the land several years ago and the site, previously occupied by the Reekie Group garage, was one of several across the country it sold to LSI.
Council planner William Shand said town centre retailers could see more custom if the new units mean people shop in Cupar rather going further afield to retail parks in Kirkcaldy or Dundee.
He said: “When people shop there they may also shop in the town centre as well so there should be a benefit in that regard.”
A mini-roundabout is to be built at the entrance to the park on South Road.
Cupar councillor Karen Marjoram said: “Guidance around the safety of cyclists suggests mini-roundabouts are probably the worst thing you can put in from a cyclist’s perspective.
“This is a walking route to school and we are encouraging youngsters to cycle to school so it doesn’t seem to add up.”
However, transportation officer Richard Simmons said pedestrians were “extremely well catered for” in the plans with three crossing options including a pedestrian refuge at the roundabout wide enough for all users.
A T-junction had been ruled out on safety grounds, he said, and traffic lights were likely to be unpopular with motorists and hold up traffic.
Several objections were submitted by residents, Cupar Development Trust, the town’s community council and Sustainable Cupar.
An acoustic fence is to be raised to reduce noise from delivery vehicles, which will be permitted only between 7am and 10pm.
When people shop there they may also shop in the town centre as well so there should be a benefit in that regard. WILLIAM SHAND