Development under way at retail site promising 110 jobs for Cowdenbeath

0 Bryan Wilson, development director at London & Scottish A Glasgow-based property developer has been fast out of the traps to start conversion work on a former greyhound track and football pitch in Fife, as part of a project that will create 110 jobs.

London & Scottish Investments kick-started work on a retail site at North End Park in Cowdenbeath within days of securing final planning permission.

The £8.5 million development will see discount supermarket Lidl and retailer B&M set up shop on the site, with each bringing up to 40 longterm retail jobs.

Inverkeithing-based contractor Muir Construction, which is delivering the development, will have a workforce of 30 for the ten-month construction phase.

It expects to complete ground works for the site this month, before building a 20,000 square feet unit for Lidl and a 27,000 sq ft unit for B&M, including an outdoors sales area. Both buildings and a 240-space car park are due to be completed by July, with the stores ready for fitting and trading some six weeks later.

Bryan Wilson, development director with London & Scottish, which bought the site from Tesco in 2015, said: “This is a great development that represents a real shot in the arm for Cowdenbeath’s economy.

“We are delighted that Lidl and B&M have committed to the site. Local shoppers are going to be spoiled for choice.”

North End Park was originally Cowdenbeath FC’S home in the 1880s, with the club continuing to play there until its move to Central Park in 1917.

It later became home to amateur football club Hearts of Beath and was also used as a greyhound racing stadium from the 1930s until the 1970s.

In 2013 Fife Council awarded Tesco planning permission to build a store on the site, but the retailer later revoked its plans.