PLANS for a long-awaited Lidl store in Rosyth have been shelved.
Lidl confirmed that it will "not be progressing" plans for the site on Queensferry Road.
A spokesperson said: "We have been exploring options to bring a Lidl store to this site for almost 10 years now.
"It has taken this amount of time for the conditions relating to the planning application to be discharged and unfortunately our contract has also now expired.
"Regretfully we will not be progressing with this particular site. Over these years, we have been pleased to open our new stores in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.
"Our team are also continuing to look for additional suitable sites to bring new Lidl stores to Fife."
What's the background?
Plans have been in place for the store for over five years after planning permission was granted in April 2018.
The site on Queensferry Road includes the former ground of Rosyth FC and lies between Admiralty Road and Castle Road.
To allow for the proposals, Rosyth FC moved out of their former home back in 2018 and have been homeless since then.
The provision of a replacement pitch for the club proved a major stumbling block and held up progress for years as no suitable site could be found, with the Fleet Grounds ruled out after the council decided to build the replacement Inverkeithing High School there.
Eventually it was agreed that a new astroturf pitch and home for the club would be built at Pitreavie playing fields.
Rosyth FC chairman Russell Craig expressed shock at the latest development however is hopeful it will not affect their plans for a move to Pitreavie with their new facility very close to completion.
"I am not overly concerned about it," he said. "But until we are literally playing on that park, I will not be convinced it is happening just with everything that has gone on.
"The stance is ourselves, the council, McTaggart and Mickel and Pitreavie are working our way round it.
"The park is literally ready. We are still waiting on a couple of things internally to make it East of Scotland (league) compliant."
What has the reaction been?
Local councillor Brian Goodall said he was "so disappointed" to hear the news.
"So many local people have told me how much they’d have liked to see the store come to the town, especially in this cost of living crisis," he said.
"There are so many unanswered questions about what happens on this site. It’s been so long now since Rosyth FC moved on from what was their Recreation Park Ground and here we are, back looking for a retailer to come in and operate from this site.
"I’ve requested an urgent clean up of the area as I feel it’s be left in a very poor condition for far too long. It’s time for Fife Council to act like a good neighbour and tidy the place up. I’m sure that might also help make it more appealing to another possible retailer.”
Earlier this year, Lidl said that building work for the store – which had been set to create 35 jobs – would not start until January 2025 with a scheduled opening date of November 2025.
