THE creation of a new M&S food store and a Lidl supermarket in Dunfermline is a step closer after the developers committed to a legal agreement with Fife Council.

Plans are well advanced for an extension of Halbeath Retail Park and the latest move will see just over £700,000 provided by site owners, Royal London Mutual Insurance Society. 

The money will be used by the council for transport improvements, such as the northern relief road. 

Half of the funds will be handed over before work starts with the remaining balance sent before the opening of the first retail unit.

The deal was a condition made when planning permission was controversially granted by Fife councillors earlier in the year.

Planners had recommended that the proposals be refused as they said the proposed extension would have a “significant detrimental impact” on the town centre. However, members of the west planning committee disagreed.

The plans for the retail park’s extension also include new non-food units, 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.

As reported last month in the Press, work is unlikely to start this year on the site. Lidl also have plans to open a supermarket in Rosyth, at the site of The Yard.