Fife Housing Association Alliance has announced that it will construct 89 new homes across the area in the next year.

The Fife Housing Association Alliance, a partnership between the four Fife-based Housing Associations, provides new affordable housing throughout Fife and is the preferred development partner for Fife Council and the Scottish Government in the delivery of new affordable housing in Fife.

As part of the Alliance arrangements, Kingdom Housing Association is developing four new projects in the Central Fife Area, with a construction cost of £8.8m

At Rosewell Drive, Lochore, a £4m development will provide 35 new homes for rent and the first phase was recently completed, with the final phase due for completion in July 2008. The project is part of a redevelopment partnership with Ore Valley Housing Association and Fife Council, and will be constructed by Campion Homes.

Lochgelly is one of the priority regeneration areas in Fife, and two of the four developments are in the town. At Cook Square, Clachan Construction will build 14 new homes at a cost of £1.4m, scheduled for completion in July 2008.


Planning consent has also been granted for a project on Main Street, Lochgelly, where Ore Valley will provide 12 flats and six shop units, as part of the wider redevelopment of the area. Construction, to be carried out by Richard Street Ltd, should start on site by the end of May.

And funding approval has been received for another project at Whitehall Drive, Cardenden, where 20 new homes will be built by Hart Builders, including housing designed specifically for older people or households requiring homes designed to full Wheelchair Standards.

The cost for the Cardenden development of the new homes is over £2.2m and approximately £1.5m has been provided by the Scottish Government, with the balance to be funded by Ore Valley Housing Association.

When completed, the four projects will provide 89 new homes for rent in Central Fife as part of an ongoing development programme.

Alan McGuckin, Chief Executive at Kingdom, said: "As the development partner for the Fife Alliance, we are very pleased to be in a position to provide much needed new affordable housing in the area."

When the houses are completed, ownership will transfer to Ore Valley Housing Association, which will own and manage them in the future.

Andrew Saunders, Ore Valley's Director, added: "Housing developments within these communities will make a big difference to the lives of a number of people, there is a huge need for additional development throughout Fife and it is important that Fife Housing Association Alliance continues to bring forward high quality housing developments in all parts of Fife."

(GK/JM)