Major Housing Project Complete

A £17million redevolpment project in Glenrothes is finished.

Over 150 new homes have been constructed in Caskieberran and Tanshall areas, which contained 11 maisonette blocks of flats, that were difficult to manage and maintain and were unpopular with applicants who required housing.

Kingdom has been working in partnership with Fife Council since 2004 when the area was designated an Estate Regeneration Action Area and a master plan was produced to facilitate the design and provision of high quality affordable housing.

The unpopular maisonettes were demolished and the area was redeveloped to provide new homes, to meet a full range of needs for social rent. The majority of the new homes are suitable for families which represent the highest needs in the area, however some spacious one bedroom flats have also been incorporated into the mix to provide a housing option for people who want to downsize or move to a smaller home in response to Welfare Reform changes.

Fife Council and the Scottish Government contributed 65 per cent of the £17m required to undertake the project.

The houses have been built to Kingdom’s high quality design criteria. They have won Secured by Design accreditation and have high energy efficiency standards including the use of renewable technologies and energy monitoring meters.

Bill Banks, chief executive with Kingdom, said: “The project had to be phased over a number of years to recognise the funding availability and the rehousing requirements of tenants in the original blocks. Although there was low demand for these properties, there was a high housing need in the area and we wanted to provide excellent quality new homes which would help sustain the community in the Glenrothes area.”

Bill added: “We are very proud of what has been achieved and of the 157 new homes which have been provided.”

The final phase was completed last week and the Morton family who are among the latest families to be allocated one of the new homes are delighted with the extra space that it gives their children. Mrs Kelly Morton said that their new house is “already turning into a proper family home”.

The project has been developed through a partnership contract with Hart Builders, who have contributed to the community benefits objectives through directly participating in various training, employment initiative and education programmes with the local Tanshall primary school.

Colin Macdonald, director with Hart Builders, said: “Hart Builders are delighted to have been in partnership with Kingdom Housing Association throughout the Tanshall and Caskieberran development programme. Working on the various phases over a number of years has enabled us to create community development opportunities in collaboration with local agencies.

“These have included taking on 3 apprentices and a significant number of work experience opportunities of up to 8 weeks on site experience. These projects also allowed us to maintain our own local direct labour force which together with local sub-contractors numbered up to 40 employees.”