B&M has its eyes set on the old Dobbies site in Dalgety Bay.

The retail firm has applied for planning permission to build a new home store at Ridge Way along with a garden centre.

It's expected that the proposed development will result in up to 48 full-time and part-time jobs in a range of skills and salary levels.

READ MORE: B&M staff set to be rewarded for pandemic efforts.

B&M Retail Ltd say they are seeking representation within South Fife and specifically Dalgety Bay, where a new store would complement the company’s existing outlets in the area.

It comes just after B&M launched a new store in the Kingsgate Centre in November in addition to their sites at Halbeath and Cowdenbeath, which also has a garden centre similar to what is planned for Dalgety Bay.

READ MORE: New B&M store opens in Kingsgate

Plans would include the demolition of the existing Dobbie's buildings as well as car-parking.

Agent for B&M Retail, MWA, said in a planning statement: "The area in and around Dalgety Bay, particularly towards the west (Rosyth and

Inverkeithing) and east (Aberdour and Burntisland) is not currently served by a B&M Homestore.

"There is, in addition, a clear and urgent need to secure a sustainable, long-term future of the former Dobbies garden centre site and the commercial reality is that there is no occupational interest from any of the pure DIY retailers.

"B&Q and Wickes are already operating from the retail park and these operators will be the primary competitors to a B&M Homestore.

"The proposal will not adversely affect the vitality and viability of existing centres.

"Rather, the majority of trade will be drawn from existing out-of-centre stores and retail parks.

"It would enhance consumer choice and competition and would support social inclusion by providing quality goods at affordable prices which will be a particular benefit for those on lower incomes."

The garden centre closed in February 2020 with Dobbies deciding to concentrate their retail operation at their Fife Leisure Park store in Dunfermline.

There have been concerns about the site after fly-tippers dumped rubbish there in September.

Dobbies were moved to clear up and secure the site after pressure from the Press.

Councillor David Barratt said: "The plans seem to have had an overwhelmingly positive response from the local community but there clearly will be interest in the detail, such as impact on traffic in the vicinity.

"Questions will also inevitably be raised over possible decline of the town centre as the gateway development and Asda increasingly become a retail centre, compromising the Bay centre, which Tesco owns."