Planning permission has been secured for the first project in Fife’s flagship City Region Deal programme.
The first part of its industrial innovation investment plans will see nine single-storey business units built in Glenrothes.
Work will be able to start on the development this autumn as part of the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
The development, on land to the north of Flemington Road in the Queensway industrial estate, aims to boost economic development in the town and provide small business space to local enterprises which have ambitions to grow.
It is the first part of an ambitious programme to deliver new buildings and sites across mid and south Fife.
Fife’s industrial innovation investment scheme will support the creation of 1,000 new skilled permanent jobs and almost 600 short term construction jobs.
It’s backed by a partnership of universities, businesses and Fife Council with the hope of delivering high value jobs.
Fife Council co-leader, SNP councillor David Alexander, said this was another important step forward in delivering the 10-year programme which will encourage more businesses to locate and grow within Fife, and secure a further £30 million of investment by the private sector.
“Our focus in Fife is firmly on fairer economic growth, where everyone benefits from good employment opportunities and regional investments.
“Fife’s 10-year, £48.4 industrial innovation investment programme will deliver much-needed new industrial buildings in key locations.
“This is a major economic opportunity for the businesses that will be able to expand into the new units and those investing in the sites delivered by the programme.”
It will be delivered in three phases and over the next three years new industrial units will be developed on four sites in Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Lochgelly and Dunfermline.
More than two hectares of new serviced employment land will also be made available in Dalgety Bay and Dunfermline.
Co-leader, Labour councillor David Ross, added: “This project, now on its way to becoming a reality, will be the first visible sign of the positive changes that the City Region Deal will bring to Fife.”
He said its £1.3bn, 15-year investment could create clear opportunities for genuine inclusive economic growth and investment in Fife.
“The deal focuses on growing the regional economy through collaboration and by being outward looking, building on the region’s existing strengths in key sectors and industries,” he added.
