CONTROVERSIAL proposals for a new Lidl and Marks and Spencer Foodhall in Dunfermline have been approved.

Fife Council's planning officers had argued that the move to extend Halbeath Retail Park, which also includes new non-food units, should be refused.

They said the development would have a "significant detrimental impact" on the town centre but councillors at yesterday's west planning committee disagreed and gave the go-ahead.

Chair of the committee, Bob Young, said: "It was approved by six votes to five. I had moved for approval on the basis that it was going to create 200 jobs and finish off that end of the retail park.

"They're also going to put in the crossing and a donation of £750,000 towards traffic improvements so I'm quite happy with everything they said they would do."

On the potential impact on Dunfermline town centre, he said: "Marks and Spencer are not going to shut their shop in the town centre and Lidl said they weren't going to go to the town centre so, honestly, I don't have a problem with it.

"The officers have their opinion and I have mine."

Royal London Mutual Insurance Society own the park and said they had public backing for the development.

Spokesman Michael Lawrence previously told the Press: “It is clear that there is an appreciation of the real benefits that Dunfermline will gain from having a new Lidl store and a Marks and Spencer Foodhall to complement the existing offer in the town centre.”

The plans include 303 new car-parking spaces, traffic safety measures and a new pedestrian crossing on Halbeath Road.

The extension will be at the east end of the retail park with a new access road from the roundabout on Kingseat Road.

Last year, Chris Smith, from M&S Simply Food, had said: “We want to bring an M&S Foodhall to Halbeath Retail Park, the new store would help us better serve our customers in Dunfermline and complement our town centre store.”

And Lidl’s Chris Scott had added: “Lidl is keen to create a new store at Halbeath Retail Park and work in partnership with the owners and Fife Council to ensure that we can deliver the local job opportunities, investment and choice for our customers in Dunfermline.”

A previous proposal, for a development of nine new outlets, which included Lidl but not M&S, was refused permission by councillors in January 2016.

Opponents had argued it would “kill the High Street” and Dunfermline Delivers, which represents 450 town-centre firms, was against the plan.

The new plan had attracted 11 letters of objection, including one from Halbeath Residents and Tenants Association and two from Zurich Assurance, who own Carnegie Retail Park.

Among the concerns were increased traffic, congestion and air pollution, pedestrian safety and the impact on the town centre.