Work is progressing to develop two new food shops in Cupar and St Andrews by the summer.
After months of site preparation, steelwork is now being erected on the sites of the proposed Aldi supermarket in South Road, Cupar, and the proposed Marks and Spencer Simply Food/Premier Inn development on Largo Road, St Andrews.
Planning permission for the Aldi store in Cupar was approved by councillors last summer.
Fife Council’s North East Planning Committee approved a 1,500sq ft food store along with parking provision for more than 90 cars on the site of the former Martex Cash and Carry in South Road.
The company says the development will bring around 30 full-time and part-time jobs, with around 1,300 products available.
The application had attracted five objections, mainly amid concerns over road safety.
However, with Tesco revealing it is not going ahead with its superstore further down South Road, councillors were told the impact on the vitality and viability of retail provision in the town centre would be “marginal but bearable”.
Graham Nicolson, property director for Aldi Stores in Scotland, confirmed work is progressing on schedule and the developer is still on target for an opening date, to be announced, in the summer. Mr Nicolson said: “We are very excited about the prospect of bringing the Aldi brand to Cupar, not least because of all the support and encouragement we have been given by the local community.
“By next summer, Cupar will have its very own, brand new Aldi store.”
Meanwhile, work is also well under way to develop a new Marks and Spencer and Premier Inn development on the site of the former derelict and now demolished abattoir complex on Largo Road in St Andrews.
Since obtaining planning consent a year ago, Crucible (St Andrews) Ltd have been going through the process of satisfying all the conditions set by Fife Council, obtaining all necessary building warrants and completing the detailed design of the development.
All of this is now done and the scheme is due for completion by early summer.