Dunfermline town centre is to receive a facelift

A new extended Kingsgate shopping centre, multi-storey car park, bus station and traffic improvements are part of the overhaul.

Work will include up to 27 more shopping units on two levels at the Kingsgate shopping centre as well as a new flagship Debenhams store.

A 700 space car park is due to be completed and the new Kingsgate opened by September 2008.

Councillor Anne McGovern, Fife Council leader, said: "Working with our partners and based on the feedback from local people we now have a vision of Dunfermline as a small, successful city, building on its strengths and opportunities."

Ivan McCabrey, managing director of Crosslands, the owners of the Kingsgate said: "The plans for the Kingsgate and the city centre as a whole are based on the potential that Dunfermline has to attract major players in the retail industry and a growing confidence in the city's ability to pull shoppers back into a city centre worth exploring."

Parking arrangements

Councillor Mike Rumney, Fife Council's chairman of the environment and development committee, said: "We know that the changes planned will cause disruption

"But a lot of planning has gone into making sure that disruption is kept to a minimum and we don't underestimate the concerns of local businesses and residents affected."

Details of temporary parking arrangements, alongside bus information and traffic restrictions are being circulated to local businesses and residents.

A public information event will be held in the Kingsgate shopping centre on Monday, 24 July from 0900 BST to 1800 BST.