Fife Council’s Affordable Housing Programme is helping to provide more much needed council homes in the Abbeyview area of Dunfermline.

New homes are also about to take shape at Elliot Street, Dunfermline. Both sites started in March this year with the first occupants due to move in to Bute Crescent, Abbeyview during August 2016.

The development at Bute Crescent is a design and build project with Persimmon Homes who have offered to host placements which will give candidates from the council’s construction academy valuable experience.

The project will deliver 49 new homes ranging from one-bed cottage flats to five bed houses and will include six amenity standard bungalows. These properties will be meeting silver standards and contribute to the council’s commitment to deliver modern, fit for purpose, energy efficient homes which include important features such as sprinkler systems, innovative technologies, increased insulation standards and high air tightness. This contributes to tackling fuel poverty and improving living standards. 110 parking spaces will also be created as part of the new development. The project has received £588, 000 of Scottish Government funding.

At Elliot Street, a design and build project with Campion Homes which will start to take shape over the coming months will result in 30 homes for mid-market rent (MMR). MMR is more suitable for people who are working but can’t afford market rent prices. The rents are set at a level between market rent and those charged for council homes. The homes will be a mix of one and two bedroom flats with 61 parking spaces. These properties will also meet silver standards with handover scheduled for March 2017.

Councillor Judy Hamilton, Fife Council’s Executive Spokesperson for Housing & Building Services, recently visited the sites to see the start of building. 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 these new developments.

“As well as the very significant benefits to the people who will live in these quality, warmer homes, we’re delighted to offer employment opportunities whilst construction work goes on here. The workforce is doing a fantastic job in contributing towards our target of 2,700 new affordable homes for Fife by 2017.”