SOME of the council's new homes are "far, far, far too small" and "not fit for purpose", according to a senior West Fife councillor.

Alice McGarry, who is convener of the South and West Fife area committee, made the comments while getting an update on the area's housing plan.

She said she had visited new-builds in Inverkeithing and had not been impressed.

"Councillor David Barratt and I went and had a look at the new houses at Spencerfield and I had discussions with one tenant who was in a large house who had been offered one of the two-bedroom houses. Quite frankly, they are not fit for purpose," she said.

"There is no way we are going to be able to get people to downsize when presenting them with houses that are far, far, far too small, including the kitchens – which you cannot swing a cat in.

"We made these comments to the new housing team and they poo-pooed them. We have to do better than that.

"I feel quite strongly we are building houses that really folk, more than one person, would not be comfortable in. The living rooms are too small for a table and the kitchens are too small to swing a cat."

Reacting to the comments, South and West Fife area housing manager Claire Mackinlay said she would pass on the comments.

"I know affordable housing are doing a satisfaction survey which gives tenants the opportunity to feedback on the new build," she said. "If looking for an incentive for people to free up larger houses, there is an added reason there for making sure they are desirable so I will feed that back."

Committee members gave their backing to the housing plan for 2022-24 which outlines how Fife Council will work with partners and local communities to improve housing services in the locality.

The plan, which spans the period until March 2024, effectively covers Aberdour, Dalgety Bay, Hillend, Inverkeithing, North Queensferry, Rosyth, Limekilns, Charleston, Crombie, Torryburn, Newmills, High Valleyfield, Culross, Kincardine, Saline, Blairhall, Oakley and Carnock.

To address the lack of affordable housing, Fife Council plans to buy at least five ex-council homes through the local authority’s property acquisition policy, free up at least six larger council homes for families needing larger accommodation and work with the affordable housing team to provide 19 new council homes at Crombie.

In relation to parking, officials have pledged to demolish two lock-up sites somewhere in the area which are surplus to requirements and replace those with parking spaces, while additional parking will be provided at The Cairns in Charlestown.

A total of 13 driveways will also be installed for tenants in Leighton Street, High Valleyfield, with a further 10 earmarked for tenants at Spittalfield Crescent, Inverkeithing, by March next year.

Meanwhile, the council has pledged to demolish 24 low-demand properties in Sir George Bruce Road, Oakley, and replace them with landscaping by the end of this year.

A range of local improvements have also been pencilled in across the South and West Fife area, including improvements to bin storage areas, paths, lighting, and fencing in the likes of Inverkeithing, Rosyth and Kincardine.