The Fife community of Guardbridge is celebrating more good news with the completion by Kingdom Housing Association of its latest new housing development delivering 66 new homes to the village.

Tenants are now moving in to the final phase of the £8.1 million development at Toll Road and David Finlay VC Place.

The project was built for Kingdom by Fife based Campion Homes Ltd and grant assistance of £4.1m was provided by the Scottish Government and Fife Council.

The development includes 56 new homes for social rent and 10 for mid market rent. In addition to family housing the project provides some ground floor accommodation specifically designed to meet the needs of elderly or less-abled people. The homes have been built to Kingdom’s high quality design criteria and include renewable technologies to reduce energy bills and meet Building Controls Silver Standard of Sustainability.

One of the new tenants, Carolynn McQueen said: “I can’t believe how lucky we are to get this house. It’s like night and day from where we lived before; very well insulated and very warm.”

Councillor Tim Brett said: “These new affordable homes are a welcome addition to the housing stock in North East Fife where demand for such homes strongly outstrips supply. This is more good news for Guardbridge which is turning a corner with the development of the £25m Green Energy Centre by St Andrews University at the old paper mill and the continuing success of the Eden Mill distillery and brewery.”

Bill Banks, chief executive of Kingdom, said: “The project is an excellent example of partnership working and we are delighted to be able to give local people the opportunity to access much needed new housing at an affordable rent.”

Bill added: “A number of training and employment initiatives have been delivered as part of the project including the creation of 2 apprenticeships and 5 construction related jobs which demonstrates the added value which can be gained through the delivery of affordable housing projects.”

As part of the development proposals Kingdom made a £15,000 contribution towards the local Motray Park play facilities and provided funding assistance towards the upgrading of the area’s Scottish Water infrastructure.