WORK on the first phase of new homes at the former Pilmuir Works site is progressing well.

A show home is set to be ready by the end of next month with the first phase due to be completed by the end of 2020.

The land on Pilmuir Street was last used as a factory by Dunlop and then Duracord but it closed in 2005 and the site fell into disrepair.

Byzantian Developments Ltd secured planning permission for the development in Pilmuir Street last year which will include a new seven-storey red brick block, rooftop gardens, the preservation of Dunfermline’s last industrial chimney and a separate private car park on Campbell Street.

The main block in the centre of the site that will have 66 flats and rooftop gardens and a further 37 homes are proposed in a new five-storey, light beige brick block at the Winterthur Lane end of the site, with 54 flats planned for Pilmuir Street.

There will be private gardens with trees, plants and ‘soft’ landscaping, and 72 car-parking spaces, including three electric car-charging points.

Byzantian managing director Dan Multon told the Press: “We are really excited. We have got the contractor on board and they have been on site for over a month now. Progress is going really well with them. We have a big sign up, the website has gone live and we are just getting the show home ready and once that is ready later this year, we will be able to invite people in.

“We are looking at completing phase one at the end of next year and we are hoping to get the show home ready by the end of November.

“We have had a huge amount of response. Our agents are taking people’s names and registering a lot of interest.”

This week, Alloa-based Marshall Construction announced they had secured the £11.25 million contract for the Linen Quarter.

The deal will see them take charge of the first two phases with the initial phase, known as The Depot, providing a commercial space and 37 apartments while the second stage, the Foundry, will provide 66 mid-market residential units for Kingdom Initiatives, a sister company of Kingdom Housing Association who let private rented apartments to key workers, such as nurses and other emergency services.

Gareth Bland, development and bid manager for Marshall Construction, said the development would revitalise the town centre.

“We look forward to working with our new client, Byzantian, to successfully deliver this project that will drive growth in Dunfermline and the surrounding areas,” he said. “Our experienced project team has already established the site and commenced the works.

“I am really proud of my whole team and believe that we have developed an incredibly professional and collaborative culture.”