The three-bed properties, within a single terraced block in Catherines Wynd, are in an area of high demand and will help to reduce the waiting list for families needing larger rental houses in the West Fife area.

Councillor Judy Hamilton, spokesperson for housing, explained: “Despite having one of the UK’s largest social house-building programmes, delivering over 7400 houses since 2012, the pressure on our housing services is relentless. To help meet that increasing demand, it’s vital that we continue to engage with private sector landowners, land agents and developers as well as developing land and buildings that the council already own.

“In this case, I’m pleased that we have agreed to acquire these much needed houses that can be quickly allocated to waiting families who need larger or alternative homes. There are no council housing developments proposed for the village in the next few years and the acquisition of these high quality homes represents value for money for our Affordable Housing Programme.”

Fife Council declared a housing emergency in March 2024, raising concerns with the Scottish Government about the cut in funding towards Fife’s Affordable Housing Programme and the impact it would have on the overall number of new affordable houses the council and the Fife Housing Association Alliance can provide.