The construction of a new hotel in Kirkcaldy will significantly bolster the town’s economy if plans are given the green light.
Councillor Neil Crooks, chairman of the Kirkcaldy area committee, said that Premier Inn’s plans for a 60-bedroom hotel at Ostlers Way prove that the Lang Toun is open for business.
A planning application to build a restaurant, possibly a Brewer’s Fayre, has also been submitted adjacent to the proposed hotel site.
“This is great news for Kirkcaldy and the culmination of great work by our economic development team,” said Mr Crooks.
“Investment like this breeds confidence and reinforces my belief that Kirkcaldy is a business-friendly area for investors.”
The news, revealed by The Courier earlier this week, has already been welcomed by tourism chiefs. Alistair Bruce, chairman of Fife Tourism Partnership, said: “A new hotel that suits both business and leisure visitors is a welcome boost for tourism in mid-Fife.
“Increasingly we see that people who come to the area for business are keen to come back again to explore more of what Fife has to offer.”
While Kirkcaldy is home to several hotels, large chains have tended to avoid the Lang Toun, focusing instead on sites at Glenrothes and Dunfermline.
It is believed that the location of the proposed hotel, within close proximity to the A92, could make it attractive to business users.
The applicant behind the restaurant, Carter Lauren, has previously operated on behalf of Brewer’s Fayre, the Whitbread-owned chain that also operates Premier Inn.