MORE THAN 500 new council homes are set to be built across West Fife as part of a Fife-wide plan to improve housing stock.

In its annual housing investment report, Fife Council have set a target of delivering 358 affordable homes in the Dunfermline area by 2017, with a further 189 across South West Fife, as it bids to meet a Fife-wide target of 2700 new properties.

Fife’s Affordable Housing Programme say that they are at the “identification stage” to increase the number of social rented housing with new-build schemes at North Fod, East Paton Street, Muir Road in Townhill and Blacklaw Road, which will include 30 new houses.

Other developments planned include construction of 31 properties at Oakfield Gate in Dalgety Bay and 21 flats at Bluebell Meadows in Dunfermline, which will be managed for the council by Kingdom Housing Association for mid-market rent.

Alan Russell, senior manager for housing asset management, said, “We are currently at the site identification stage for new build development projects at East Paton Street, Muir Road and a second phase of new build properties on Blacklaw Road.

"That doesn’t mean that each of these will go ahead though, it just means that we are considering them within Fife’s mix of potential sites.

“North Fod is a project that is further progressed than the others. Planning permission has been granted and work to build 49 homes will begin within the next month.

"The £5.8m development secured £49,000 Scottish Government funding.” The report, which was presented to councillors at both the city of Dunfermline and south west Fife area committee, outlined further investment of over £4.5million to carry out improvements to existing council housing.

A total of £3.052 million has been allocated to complete a total of 653 jobs across Dunfermline, with a range of improvements including 155 new heating systems, 167 new kitchens and 216 new sets of windows and doors.

There will be £1.5million invested in south west Fife properties for similar work which is being carried out across the Kingdom to bring them up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

South west Fife area committee chair Bobby Clelland added, “I’m pleased that so many improvement works will be carried out in the next year, bringing us closer to the target of 100 per cent compliance with the Government’s Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.

“The improvements will make real differences for tenants in the South West Fife area and allow us to offer more fit for purpose, comfortable homes.”