Fife Council’s Planning Review Body will meet on 16 June 2025 to consider Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate (UK)’s appeal against the council’s decision to refuse planning application. A successful appeal would allow Poundstretcher to move from Unit 6, which would enable The Range to move into Poundstretcher’s vacated property.

The planning application was submitted in October 2023, with a decision expected in February 2024. After a significant delay, Fife Council planning officers refused the application in January 2025 on the grounds that Poundstretcher’s relocation could negatively impact the vitality and viability of Glenrothes town centre.

Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate (UK) disagreed with the council’s decision and lodged an appeal in March 2025 for the following key reasons:

• It is believed that its initial proposal supported the council’s policy in favour of durable/non-food retail and non-food retail warehousing at the Saltire Retail Park commercial centre
• The Sequential Assessment it carried out as part of the application demonstrates that there are no suitable, viable or available alternative town centre or edge of centre sites
• The Quantitative Impact Assessment demonstrates that the cumulative impact on convenience and comparison goods facilities in Glenrothes Town Centre, would be imperceptible and would have no significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre.

With the Planning Review Body now set to consider the appeal, Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate (UK) hopes that Fife Council’s decision will be overturned. This would unlock an opportunity to improve the retail offering and attract jobs and investment to the Glenrothes area, it said.

Tim John, asset manager for Saltire Retail Park at Columbia Threadneedle Real Estate (UK), commented: “We eagerly await next week’s appeal hearing on the change of use for one of the outlets at Saltire Retail Park.

“Saltire Retail Park is already well-established and serves the local community’s needs, but it needs investment to ensure its long-term future. That is why we are keen to invest in the site, bringing new retail opportunities and jobs to Glenrothes.

“Should the appeal be successful, the Park will be able to continue to provide vital jobs in Fife and improve the retail offering in the Glenrothes area, complementing both Glenrothes Town Centre and the wider Central Fife area.”