Owners of the Fife Central Retail Park in Kirkcaldy say a £10 million investment will bring at least 230 new jobs to the region and breathe new life into the development.
Plans have now been submitted for five new shops that will replace the empty former Homebase store at the western end of the park, which closed in August 2015 with the loss of 30 jobs.
Hammerson, the company that owns the retail park in the north of Kirkcaldy, said the investment will create up to 230 permanent new jobs, many more short-term construction jobs and dozens more indirect jobs.
They also suggested it will generate £3 million every year in additional income for the local economy.
The plans will see the former Homebase store changed into five large new units selling a range of bulky goods such as furniture and sports equipment.
Two new kiosk-style food outlets are also planned, while there will also be a series of improvements in the car park to make pedestrian crossings better, remove congestion and improve vehicle access.
The faades of the adjacent shops will also be enhanced to match the rest of the park.
Richard Haynes, director of Hammerson, said it was a tremendous opportunity to give the local economy a boost and create many new jobs, increasing choice and keeping shoppers spending in the town instead of going to Edinburgh or Dundee.
“Fife Central has a really important role to play in the local economy, keeping people in Kirkcaldy rather than travelling elsewhere,” he noted.
At a public exhibition in November last year, many local people appeared to give the plans their backing.
A total of 97% of people who filled in questionnaires said they supported or strongly supported the proposed increase in range of shops in the retail park, 83% gave their backing to the new catering units and 89% approved of the proposed car parking arrangements.
Mr Haynes added he had been delighted by the level of support local people had shown for the plans.
He said: “We are pleased that so many people took time out of their day to come down and see the plans and give us their support.
“We have listened to what local people have had to say and ensured our proposal will give people more choice of local shopping while complementing the town centre.”