Expansion of a major retailer’s out-of-town premises at Kirkcaldy has been blocked amid a warning that it could deal a fatal blow to the High Street.
Councillors ruled out the addition of 77 square metres of floor space equivalent to another small shop at Fife Central Retail Park which would have allowed Next to create a new format store with a wider clothing and home furnishings range and a cafe.
There were fears it would lead to the closure of the Next on the High Street, which is considered one of three key chain stores supporting the town centre’s vitality.
Fife Council’s central area planning committee rejected by seven votes to six the planning application by Hammerson to increase the size of the commercial centre at Chapel Park.
Councillor Andrew Rodger warned that creation of a bigger store at the retail park could lead Next to shutting its smaller High Street premises, threatening the presence of two other major names.
“Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and Next rely on each other being there,” he said. “If one steps out it puts the other two in a precarious position.
“We need to have the brand names there. If we saw them go I think it would be curtains for the High Street.”
Councillor Neil Crooks said: “There are several groups working in Kirkcaldy to try to maintain the town centre and revitalise its future.
“The (floor space) restrictions put on the retail park in 1995 were the right restrictions and they are even more relevant today.
“Any change to the permitted allocation outside the town centre for clothing in particular would have an impact on the town centre.”
He challenged an assertion that Kirkcaldy High Street was struggling but said: “We have a very delicate High Street, as is the case all over Scotland and probably the UK. There is a delicate balancing act with the big retailers who are needed to knit it together.”
However, Councillor John Beare said 77 square metres represented only a 5% increase in space at the retail park and that it would be very difficult to defend refusal in the case of an appeal.
While worried the expansion might be detrimental to the town centre, Councillor Peter Grant agreed there were no grounds for refusal and called for the proposal to be allowed.
He said: “Any retailer could choose to move out of the High Street at any time.”
The situation in Kirkcaldy closely matches that in Dundee, where Next has so far been thwarted in its efforts to increase the scope of its store at the Kingsway West Retail Park.