Work is to begin this month on the construction of 53 new affordable homes in the first phase of a regeneration project by Kingdom Housing Association that will transform Fraser Avenue in Inverkeithing.
The first phase of new housing will cost around £8 million and the Scottish Government has recently approved £4.3m to partly fund the project.
Bill Banks, chief executive at Kingdom Housing Association, said: “The approval of the Scottish Government funding is a major milestone and this will allow us to start on site over the next few weeks.”
Bill added: “Regeneration projects of this type are complex and can only be delivered when all partners work collaboratively and share common aims and objectives. We are very fortunate that officers and councillors from Fife Council have supported us throughout the process. The local community has also been fully involved during the various design and development stages and will continue to participate at all future stages of the regeneration.”
Fife Council has now completed the first phase of the demolition of its 234 flats in Fraser Avenue and Kingdom Housing Association, which was selected by the council as the regeneration delivery partner for the area in March 2015, has obtained planning permission to build the first 53 new homes to meet identified local needs.
It is envisaged that ultimately 189 new affordable homes will be created in a four phased regeneration plan that, it is hoped, will complete by 2022.
Alan Russell, senior manager at Fife Council, said: “The completion of demolition works for phase 1 has been a major achievement and I would like to thank everyone involved, particularly the tenants and residents directly affected. Without their co-operation we wouldn’t have reached this stage in the development.”
He added: “The new homes will be the first affordable housing completed in Inverkeithing since 2010 and this will undoubtedly contribute towards the regeneration of Fraser Avenue as well as providing more much needed housing for the area.”
Many of the tenants from the flats will be moving into the new homes when they are completed and the design stage has allowed them to influence the overall design and select house layouts to meet their particular needs.
Sarah Bralee, who will be moving into one of the new homes, said: “Being offered the opportunity to choose the ground floor layout and some of the internal fittings for our new home is exciting. We’re really looking forward to moving into our new family home and to having our own private garden.”
The architects, 7N, have developed the master plan for the area, following extensive dialogue with the community. The design is based on a variety of low rise terraced house designs, formed through a contemporary palette of materials.
A variety of house types will provide a distinct new identity for the area.
Campion Homes from Dunfermline recently won the tender for the contract and work on the new houses will start later this month.
