THERE are plans to reopen the restaurant and coffee shop at the former Baxters site near Kelty.

The premises at Kathellan Home Farm, west of the village, have been empty for almost six years but landowner Ian MacLellan has hit on a smart idea to drive new custom while motorists wait for their electric vehicles to recharge.

The plans follow just over six months after a bid to open a McDonald's drive-thru restaurant and petrol station at the site, next to junction 4 of the M90, was refused on appeal by the Scottish Government.

A planning statement on Mr MacLellan's behalf explained: "The applicants are intending to re-open the existing café/restaurant and re-open the existing food hall / shop which have been vacant, but not abandoned (i.e. we consider their existing lawful use to be unaffected).

"The reopening of these commercial premises follows a period of marketing by the owners.

"The reopening of the commercial premises will be invigorated by the new electric vehicle charging solar canopies."

Dunfermline Press: The premises at Kelty have been empty since Baxters withdrew in February 2018. The premises at Kelty have been empty since Baxters withdrew in February 2018. (Image: Elliott Simpson)

As well as the two vacant buildings, the café / restaurant and food hall / shop, the Kathellan complex includes a farmhouse and two car parking areas, with 70 and 58 spaces respectively.

At the latter Mr MacLellan has submitted a certificate of lawfulness application for 58 electric vehicle charging solar canopies across each parking space.

The statement, written by agent Neil Gray, explained: "There is increasing demand for accessible, fast electric charging points across Scotland’s strategic roads network, and the use of the vehicle charging at the existing car park will require waiting to charge vehicles and health and safety says vehicles must be unoccupied whilst charging.

"Therefore retention of customers at Kathellan for a longer period of time is anticipated - allowing them to spend this waiting time relaxing in the reopened café / restaurant and browsing the reopened food hall or sitting outdoors.

"This proposal will result in more electric vehicle charging infrastructure as required by the Scottish Government, as well as new customer visits and potentially increased economic spend at Kathellan, enabling the reopening to be a success in this region of Fife."

It will also be next to one of the entrances for the eco-wellness park at St Ninian's, with multi-million pound plans for tourism and leisure set to be developed over the coming months.

The 25 acre site was originally a dairy farm and a small tea room opened around 30 years ago, which expanded into The Butterchurn restaurant and shop.

In 2003 Ken and Jenny Thomson, who ran the business for 14 years and owned Cocklaw Developments, sold it to Ian MacLellan and Katherine Melton-Scott for a seven-figure fee.

They went on to establish the award-winning Kathellan Fine Food and Gifts and Restaurant, before Baxters took it over in February 2008 and signed a 10-year lease.

Ambitious £50m plans for junction 4, outlined in October 2009 and involving the site, later failed to progress.

Following some challenging trading conditions, the firm did not renew and withdrew from Kelty in February 2018. The site has been vacant ever since.

Mr MacLellan and TG Convenience Stores submitted the plans for McDonald's and a petrol station but the application was refused by Fife Council in November 2022 and an appeal to the Scottish Government was rejected in May.

In the Autumn signs went up at the site for 'The Blairadam Television Studios' with Gerry Boyle, from the Burlington Group, confirming it as the "location for production of The Burlington Channel, our online viewing platform here at Burlington Television".

However, little has been heard since and a planning application has yet to be submitted.

Mr MacLellan was contacted but did not respond.