Building More Affordable Homes

Councillors insist a restoration project in a central Fife town will help plug a housing shortage gap.

Lochgelly Town House is being converted into four flats, while an additional twelve properties are also being built adjacently in Hall Street. The project is due for completion in spring 2016.

It’s part of a wider ‘three-project’ investment programme for Lochgelly. Fife Council says St Andrews Church will also be transformed into an indoor climbing and bouldering centre, while a new town square is to be created.

Councillor Judy Hamilton, Executive Committee Spokesperson for Housing & Building Services said: “These projects are an important step in the continued investment to transform the area, not to mention yet another significant milestone for the Council’s housing building programme to deliver 2,700 new affordable homes for rent by 2017.

“Restoring the Town House into flats for rent will give this vacant historic building, in the heart of town, a new lease of life. The construction of the new homes is being managed in house by Fife Council’s Building Services. Most of the restoration work is also being carried out ‘in house’ including the roof and window replacement to the Town House as well as the electrical work on both the new build and the conversion.”

The energy efficient new build flats have been designed with high levels of insulation and air tightness to the building fabric. The energy efficiency of both the new build and converted flats has also been boosted by the use of heat recovery technology in the heating and ventilation systems.

Cllr Hamilton added: “The additional benefits of the development are important too. At the moment the Council has two third year roofer apprentices working on the site gaining very valuable training and experience. A number of local construction firms have also picked up contracts to develop elements of the project as it progresses.”