B&M has been given the green light to build a new store at the old Dobbies site in Dalgety Bay.

Fife Council has given conditional approval after concluding that the development would be of "economic benefit" to West Fife.

The retail firm first applied for planning permission back in February to demolish the old Dobbies and build a new home store at Ridge Way along with a garden centre.

It's expected to create up to 48 full-time and part-time jobs at a range of skills and salary levels.

Planning officer Jamie Penman wrote: "The proposed development has been assessed against the provisions of national planning policy, the Development Plan and other related guidance and is deemed accepted.

"The proposal would develop a brownfield site and be of economic benefit to the area, whilst having no significant impacts on visual or residential amenity, road safety, natural heritage, flooding or land contamination."

B&M Retail Ltd have been seeking premises within South Fife and specifically Dalgety Bay to complement the company’s existing outlets in the area.

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

Plans include the demolition of the existing Dobbies buildings as well as car-parking.

Agent for B&M Retail, MWA, said in a previous planning statement: "There is 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.

"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.

Local residents seem to be in favour of the new store, despite a few objections about the loss of existing trees and an increase in traffic.

Councillor David Barratt said: "It will be good to see the site back in productive use. There was fears that it was going to sit empty for a while. It's good to see things moving forward.

"The primary concerns from locals has been around transport and whether the junction there needed upgrading but Fife Council are satisfied after assessment that is it going to be OK. It will be one to keep an eye on.

"The sooner it gets demolished the better and B&M have been in contact with the community council previously so I'm sure that they will be again be in contact about when work will start."