Proposals to extend the John Smith Business Park, one of Fife’s fastest-growing business locations, have been given the green light
Fife Council has granted outline planning permission to speculatively develop a further 415,000 sq ft (38,554 sq m) of offices, a 60-bed four-star hotel and conference centre, 400 homes and 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) of retail on the 60 acre (24 ha) site.
This will complete the first phase of a development programme that could last more than a decade. The council is expected to invite developers to submit expressions of interest shortly.
Councillor John Cameron, a spokesman for development and planning, said: ‘Our plan is ambitious, but it’s a top priority for the economic regeneration of Kirkcaldy and Mid Fife.’
The council-owned business park is already home to outsourced support services specialist MGt, which will soon be moving into the newly constructed JSBP2 building.
The park is next to the Central Fife Retail Park, which is home to several retailers including Boots, Sainsbury’s, Next and Homebase.
‘A real benefit to any business looking to locate in the park is the added attraction of first-rate leisure facilities to help support and promote health at work,’ added Cameron.
‘We also want to ensure that there are appropriate facilities to benefit not just the business community but the local community too.’