This page highlights some of the key design considerations, innovation and sustainability activities that the Development Team are currently taking forward.
The Scottish Government’s Housing to 2040 strategy aims to “help everyone to have a safe, high quality home that is affordable and meets their needs in the place they want to be”. Some of the key principles within the Housing to 2040 strategy include a focus on climate change, making better use of off site construction, the provision of good quality green open space, increased internal space standards and good access to services and transport links.
Design Standards
All our new homes are designed to comply with a range of standards not only to ensure quality and compliance but to help tackle fuel poverty and climate change issues.
Key standards which we aim to achieve as a minimum are:
- Building Regulations Enhanced Silver Sustainability Standards (Aspects 1 & 2)
- An Energy Performance Rating of “B”
- Housing for Varying Needs
- Secured by Design Gold Standard
Planned regulatory and strategic changes which we need to be mindful of when designing and future proofing our new homes include:
- Heat Standard 2024
- Building Standards Technical Handbook – Section 6: Energy
- Housing for Varying Needs Review/Inclusive Living
Where possible we will participate in any stakeholder engagement sessions and provide feedback.
Sustainability and Innovation Activities
We have developed a number of affordable housing projects over the years to demonstrate our commitment to innovation and sustainability including our first sustainable housing project in 2000, the first fully accredited Passivhaus standard house in the UK for social rent in 2010, and detailed comparative outcome studies published about our 2012 Housing Innovation Showcase project.
Our current and planned innovation activities include:
- Passivhaus – 30 unit project for social rent in Gauldry where all new homes will be designed and built to Passivhaus standards.
- Low Carbon Heating Solutions – Following the Scottish Government’s decision to move away from the installation of gas heating in new affordable homes, we have been exploring alternative low carbon heating sources. In addition to air source heat pumps which have been installed at a number of developments, we have projects at Pilmuir Street, Dunfermline and Tullis Russell, Glenrothes which are connected into their respective local district heating networks.
- Electric Vehicle Charging – to support the Scottish Government’s vision of removing the need for petrol and diesel vehicles on Scotland’s roads by 2032 we have implemented an Electrical Vehicle Charging Strategy. We have installed a number of communal charge points across our new developments.
- Housing Options – 30 amenity standard affordable homes in Guardbridge will are allocated to households over the age of 55. This special lettings initiative will help address an identified housing need in the area and facilitate continued delivery of affordable housing in an area where school capacity cannot support new family housing.
- Community Led Regeneration – regeneration work continues at Fraser Avenue to replace 236 unpopular common access flats with 114 new energy efficient affordable homes on a phased basis. Phase 1 complete (53 units) and Phase 2 (61 units) complete.
- Conversion of Empty Properties – conversion works at Hunter House, Kirkcaldy to provide 5 self contained flats along with support facilities and our former office at Natal Place, Cowdenbeath to provide 2 private access flats for social rent. Both projects repurpose and revitalise important town centre buildings along with helping to support Fife’s Rapid Re-Housing strategy. Redevelopment of office building at New City House, Dunfermline to provide 32 MMR flats.
