A new £9 million retail development in Cowdenbeath has created around 100 jobs and will breathe new life into the High Street, the team behind the project have pledged.
Glasgow-based property development company London and Scottish Investments has masterminded the transformation of the former derelict site at North End Park, just off the town’s High Street, where big name retailers Lidl and B&M have set up shop.
Cowdenbeath residents have welcomed the boost to the town.
Christine Gourlay, who is secretary of Cowdenbeath Community Council, said: “The people that I’ve spoken to are pleased with Lidl and B&M being there because it’s something different in the town.
“People have been coming from everywhere to go there so it seems to have gone down well in the town and is very positive.”
She said there had been issues with the traffic light system at the entrance to the site but these were being investigated.
“I believe an audit is being done in either March or April to see if anything can be done,” she added.
A total of 70 retail posts have been created by the new stores, with a further 30 during the construction phase.
London and Scottish Investments said much of the work had gone to local contractors and it was hoped the scheme would signal a new era for the town’s economic fortunes.
Andrew Richardson, development director the firm, said the development would help Cowdenbeath compete with other areas, allowing people from Lochgelly and the surrounding villages to do their shopping locally rather than travelling further afield to Kirkcaldy or Dunfermline.
“We are delighted to see both Lidl and B&M open and the development completed,” he said.
“North End Road was derelict for such a long time and it is now a retail destination in Central Fife.
“Not only has this helped the regeneration of Cowdenbeath it is offering local people the opportunity to shop locally rather than having to travel further afield.”
He said both Lidl and B&M were at the forefront of a UK wide retail expansion.
“This is Lidl’s 100th store in Scotland and we are delighted they chose Cowdenbeath and the North End Retail Park to help create an excellent retail destination for Fife and create valuable new jobs and revitalise the town centre,” added Mr Richardson.
The two new retail units offer 47,000 of retail space and 240 car parking spaces for visitors on the former greyhound track site that has been derelict since the 1970s.
London and Scottish Investments purchased the site from Tesco and took note of Fife’s Economic Strategy report 2017 to 2027, which includes targets for attracting new employees to the town, increasing projects into the town centre and bringing derelict land into productive use.
