THE next phase of the £30 million redevelopment of Inverkeithing's Fraser Avenue is now set to be completed by next summer – a year later than originally planned.

Phase two of the project has suffered delays because of the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit, however, Kingdom Homes say that works are now progressing well.

Around 29 units will be ready to be handed over to tenants by the end of the calendar year with the final completion date for all 61 housing units and a park area earmarked for June 2022.

Members of Fife Council's South and West Fife area committee were given an update on progress at their meeting last week.

A report from head of housing services John Mills and head of the communities and neighbourhoods service, Paul Vaughan, said demolition of blocks in phase three was still to be scheduled but would tie in with the new-build programme and the rehousing of the remaining tenants.

"A meeting with all parties involved in the demolition process is due to take place at the end of April," they stated. "This will be the final demolition phase and, once completed, will allow Kingdom to progress the third phase of new-build development.

"Design works for this phase should take place in the next few months, followed by community consultation and a subsequent planning application during the summer.

"Currently, there are eight tenants and three scatter flats remaining in use across four stairwells. Three tenants are scheduled to move to phase two of the Kingdom development and properties have been allocated to them within the development.

"The remaining 96 Kingdom Housing units will be allocated through the Fife Housing Register according to Kingdom’s lettings policy.

"Four tenants have chosen to be accommodated by Fife Council within the new Spencerfield development being built by Taylor Wimpey."

Councillors were told that the four tenants had been affected by ongoing delays with the Spencerfield development and work was continuing to address this.

Remaining empty blocks had also been affected by anti-social behaviour with reports of youths hanging around and a spate of break-ins in recent weeks in which copper piping and other fittings had been removed.

The value of items taken was estimated to be below £100.

Council officials told committee members that this had led to security being stepped up which had included the installation of intruder alarms at all empty blocks and regular walkabouts by the community caretaker. Police had also been informed and were monitoring the situation.

The project is one of the biggest regeneration projects in Scotland and involves demolishing 236 flats and replacing them in phases with 189 modern homes.

The £7.9m first phase saw 53 new homes and three new shops – a Stephens bakery, Shad Superstore and Goodfryers Chip Shop – built and occupied.