Glenrothes Poundstretcher appeal successful as planning refusal overturned

Glenrothes Poundstretcher will move to bigger premises, paving the way for the arrival of The Range.

Councillors have overturned a planning refusal, which blocked the move.

The application by Saltire Retail Park owner Columbia Threadneedle will see Poundstretcher switch to a former trampoline park, opposite its existing store.

And The Range will occupy the current Poundstretcher unit.

The proposal is expected to create up to 100 full and part-time jobs.

A timeline for the move will be announced in the coming weeks.

A Fife Council case officer appeared to have dashed the plan last year amid fears it could impact on Glenrothes town centre’s viability.

He also ruled opening at the out-of-centre retail park would increase reliance on private cars rather than public transport.

However, Columbia Threadneedle challenged the decision.

And the Glenrothes Poundstretcher appeal has now met success.

Poundstretcher appeal success secures retail park future

Case officer Brian Forsyth argued Glenrothes a larger store within Saltire Retail Park went against the council’s town centre first policy.

The retail park is designated for non-food retail, but food will form 20% of the Poundstretcher offering.

However, councillors backed the retail park owner’s argument.

Columbia Threadneedle said there were no suitable sites available in Glenrothes town centre.

And approving their application would also help secure the retail park’s long term future.

Public transport argument rejected

Review body members also dismissed the case officer’s public transport argument.

SNP councillor Ken Caldwell said: “He says the retail centre is less well-served by public transport than the town centre.

“We have a bus station in the town centre.

“Unless Fife Council is going to build another bus station, anywhere is less well-served than the town centre.”

He added: “With the type of goods that will be sold, you need a car to transport them anyway.”

“I don’t think this is a reasonable reason to refuse the appeal.”

Columbia Threadneedle says it looks forward to investing in the site’s future.