The eleven new houses are starting to take shape at the Bankhead House site with kits now being erected by Fife Council’s team of house builders. The homes will be a mix of cottage flats, three-bed, four-bed and a five-bed home – one of which will be an adapted property for a disabled tenant. There will also be 22 parking spaces added as part of the new development.

The homes, which are the first council houses to be built in Glenrothes since 1990, will benefit from energy efficient ‘Whole House heat recovery systems’ with triple glazed windows and sprinkler systems.

Councillor Judy Hamilton, the council’s executive spokesperson for housing & building services, recently visited the site to see what progress was being made.

She said: “This programme of house building is really picking up pace and I’m so pleased to be here to see the good work on this new development, especially as it’s another fine example of the housing developments that the council is building in-house.

“As well as the very significant benefits to the people that will live in these homes, we’re able to offer fantastic opportunities for our young workforce of apprentices whilst construction work goes on here. They’re doing a fantastic job in contributing towards our target of 2,700 new affordable homes for Fife by 2017.

“These are very much needed homes for rent. Housing data shows that the Glenrothes area has a need of 683 more affordable homes over the next five years. This development, and the others under construction in the area, is contributing towards filling that gap.”

The new housing development has received £154,000 of Scottish Government funding and is expected to be completed in autumn 2016. It is one of a number of sites under construction to meet the council’s target to deliver 2,700 new affordable homes by 2017.