A new partnership between Ochil View Housing Association and Kingdom Housing Association will deliver more affordable homes in Clackmannanshire with the first new homes scheduled to be a development of 12 homes in Sauchie.

The associations have signed a Strategic Collaborative Working Agreement that will see Fife-based Kingdom act as the development partner and the completed homes will transfer to Ochil View, who will own, manage and maintain the finished houses in agreed projects.

In June 2013, Ochil View Housing Association took the decision to suspend its development programme, due to cut backs in the level of subsidy available for the provision of social housing. But with two development sites under ownership and in the light of a recent increase in subsidy levels, the association decided earlier this year to recommence its new build development activity and to engage the services of a suitably experienced registered social landlord development partner.

Kingdom Housing Association has a successful track record of developing new affordable housing, having developed over 4000 new homes in the last 30 years.

Kingdom operates in East Central Scotland. The majority of Kingdom’s homes are in Fife but they have recently completed new projects in the Clackmannanshire area and have agreed a pipeline programme with the council and the Scottish Government for future projects.

Tom Brown, chairperson with Ochil View, said: “I am delighted that Ochil View and Kingdom can pool resources and work in partnership to build new affordable homes. The Scottish Government has a target to deliver 50,000 affordable homes over the next 5 years and, now that the level of subsidy has been increased, we can play our part by providing urgently needed quality homes for rent in our community.”

Charles Milne, Kingdom’s chairperson, added: “Kingdom recognises the mutual benefits that can be gained from working collaboratively with others and I’m very pleased we have reached agreement with Ochil View. The arrangement will allow Kingdom to enhance its development and procurement capacity without compromising our own development plans in the area. The main advantage of this agreement is that it will provide additional new affordable new homes in the Clackmannanshire area to meet growing needs.”

Councillor Kathleen Martin, housing spokesperson with Clackmannanshire Council, said: “I am very pleased that Ochil View and Kingdom are to work in partnership to help Clackmannanshire Council meet housing needs in the area. Ochil View are our long standing excellent local partner.

“Kingdom has a truly outstanding development record in other parts of Scotland, and has already built some wonderful new properties in the area. Putting the skills of both organisations together looks like an ideal collaboration. I am sure that the people of Clackmannanshire will soon see the benefits.”

The model is based on the lead developer arrangement that Kingdom have been operating for many years with the Fife Alliance members and other partners. In addition to the development of the new homes, the contracts will include Community Benefits clauses related to training and employment opportunities.

The first planned project for the Ochil View/Kingdom partnership will be a 12 unit development in Sauchie where the site is currently owned by Ochil View. The project is scheduled to start in 2017/18 and a future programme is being discussed between the partners.