Fife Council’s central and west planning committee approved Scottish Enterprise’s proposals to the site, with a mix of business, general industrial use, and storage and distribution, in the hope of bringing hundreds of jobs and economic regeneration to the area.

The site has already been named by Spanish train manufacturer Talgo as the preferred location for their new UK manufacturing base, which the company says will create 1,000 jobs on site.

Paul Lewis, managing director of international economic development at Scottish Enterprise, said: “This planning approval is a really exciting development for the communities of Fife, and well beyond.

“The Longannet site is of strategic importance to the Scottish economy and we are committed to ensuring it is redeveloped for future industrial use, delivering investment, jobs and further benefits.

“This commitment to transform a former fossil fuels site also supports our work to make Scotland a net zero emissions economy.

“We’re continuing our work with Talgo to bring to life their plans for a manufacturing facility on the site, after the company named Longannet as their preferred location.”

The planning consent follows the news that Talgo UK, Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland recently signed a jointly agreed framework for the establishment of part of the Longannet site as a manufacturing base for Talgo UK.

Council co-leader Cllr David Ross said: “The Longannet site is nationally significant and critically important locally. The planning permission granted today marks a significant step forward in the journey towards creating new employment and economic opportunities in the Kincardine area and beyond.

“This latest milestone builds upon the work of the Longannet Taskforce, whose focus has been to support the wider regeneration of the area following the power station’s closure in 2016.

“We now look forward to showcasing the site to ensure that this location, which has driven past industrial revolutions, will once again be a catalyst towards business activity that drives a renewed innovation-led economy.”

Co-Leader Cllr David Alexander added: “Planning application approval will see approximately 74 hectares of the site made available for investors into the Kingdom and will boost the economy within South and West Fife and across the wider region.

“We also seek to secure secondary investment within Fife, recognising that the Longannet site and its infrastructure connections give rise to significant opportunities across the wider area. Around 1,000 jobs are expected to be created at Longannet.”

The plans to regenerate the site of Scotland’s last coal-fuelled power station also support the council’s wider aim of reducing carbon emissions.