New 'highly energy-efficient' homes being built in northern Fife as part of project worth nearly £7m

Work has started on a new housing project containing "highly energy-efficient" homes in northern Fife worth nearly £7 million.

Kingdom Housing Association has started construction on 30 affordable new homes for social rent at Balgove Road in Gauldry, which is located near Newport-on-Tay.

The properties will all be built to Passivhaus and net zero carbon standards making this the organisation's largest green development to date.

It says that the Passivhaus Standard is internationally recognised and focuses on a number of key principles.

They are high quality insulation, heat control, high performing windows, airtight construction, heat recovery ventilation and thermal bridge free design.

Kingdom Housing Association says that the resulting homes are expected to be highly energy-efficient and will achieve an energy rating of 102 which exceeds the "A" rated Energy Performance Certificate banding.

There is a diverse housing mix including family homes, cottage flats as well as amenity bungalows.

Solar panels, superfast broadband, and public electric vehicle charging points are being provided.

A range of community benefits is also being delivered throughout the construction phase including training opportunities and job creation.

With the total project cost at £6.9 million, funding of £3.9 million is being provided by the Scottish Government and a contribution of £74,726 provided by Scottish Water.

The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2023, with properties being allocated from the Fife Housing Register

Julie Watson, Kingdom’s Head of Capital Investment, said: "Passivhaus is an innovative way to design homes and focuses on the use of sunshine, shade and ventilation to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without having to use as much energy as a more traditionally designed home.

"Designing these new homes to such high energy performance standards not only provides environmental benefits but helps create excellent indoor comfort levels and reduce energy costs for our tenants."

Bill Banks, the Chief Executive of Kingdom Group, said: "Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability and the environment is long-standing.

"In 2010 we were the first housing association in the UK to achieve Passivhaus accreditation with a property for social rent and now work has started on our most environmentally friendly development to date."

"Campion Homes are delivering 30 properties all of which meet the exacting Passivhaus Standard.

"They will also achieve the Gold Secured by Design Standard and the Building Regulations Silver with Gold Level 2 and Platinum Level 1 sustainability standards.

"That means Kingdom will be able to provide affordable, stylish, safe, secure and hugely energy-efficient homes for our tenants.

"The homes will be warmer and cost less to heat. That’s not only good for the environment, it’s good for our tenants too."