WORK is under way on 295 new homes to be built on the outskirts of Inverkeithing.

Taylor Wimpey began developing the Spencerfield site on Monday after a long battle for planning permission.

The firm said the range of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes would provide options for first-time buyers and growing families.

Pauline Mills, land and planning director at Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, said: “We are so pleased to be starting the construction of our Spencer Fields development in Inverkeithing.

"The development will not only provide residents from around the local area with a wide selection of homes but it offers great commutable routes to Edinburgh and the wider Fife area.

"As one of the largest housebuilders in the UK, we are committed to building more than homes and making sure that we add social, economic and environmental value to the wider communities that we operate in.”

As part of the planning agreement with Fife Council, Taylor Wimpey is contributing £583,600 towards transportation improvements.

There will be 74 affordable homes on site, delivered in partnership with the council.

The site is to the south of Inverkeithing High School and the company previously said that building new homes would provide a "range of economic benefits for the local area, including the creation of several hundred new jobs".

Taylor Wimpey first submitted proposals in 2012 for Spencerfield but the site was not included in the local development plan – FIFEplan – which is the council’s blueprint for what can be built and where.

Plans for 450 homes were refused by the council in 2013 and an appeal to the Scottish Government reporter was not upheld.

The firm came back in 2015 with revised plans for 295 homes, a Save Spencerfield group was set up and the proposals were refused by councillors.

But this time an appeal proved successful with the reporter overruling the council and granting planning permission.