THE first homes on a controversial development site in Inverkeithing are set to go on sale later this month.

Building work on the Spencer Fields site began in May and Taylor Wimpey East Scotland say the first new homes will be available to reserve from late August after a short information period.

Spencer Fields is located off Hillend Road and will offer 295 new homes with a range of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes.

The site has been subject to a lengthy planning saga. Proposals were first submitted in 2012 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, prompting the establishment of a Save Spencerfield group and the proposals were refused by councillors.

This time, an appeal proved successful with the reporter overruling the council and granting planning permission.

As part of the Section 75 planning agreement with Fife Council, Taylor Wimpey is contributing £583,600 toward transportation improvements. This includes £399,600 towards strategic transport improvements and £184,000 towards local road upgrading works.

Of the 295 new homes to be developed, 74 will be affordable homes, delivered in partnership with Fife Council.

Karen Armstrong, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, said: “We are pleased to announce that we are just a few weeks away from launching our Spencer Fields development for a short period of information on August 24.

“The launch of our sales information centre will give both existing homeowners and first-time buyers the opportunity to visit us so we can help them on the way to finding their new home.

"We would encourage anyone interested in buying a property at Spencer Fields to register their interest now to make sure they are kept up to date with the latest information ahead of the official launch of the first release of new homes at the end of August.”