THE first of 1,400 new homes between Kingseat and Halbeath should start to appear in late 2024.

Taylor Wimpey say they've made good progress with their plans for a "brand new community" - named Whitefields - in the north of Dunfermline and preparations for a first phase of 161 houses.

That'll include 93 affordable homes for Fife Council and they've submitted two new applications to the local authority to help pave the way for construction work.

READ MORE: Taylor Wimpey to hand over £23 million to Fife Council

Pauline Mills, technical director at Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, said: “We can confirm that we have submitted two applications to Fife Council - one for site infrastructure and the other for the first of two development pods.

Dunfermline Press: The view from Kingseat looking towards Dunfermline. The building of 1,400 new homes on this farmland should begin next year.The view from Kingseat looking towards Dunfermline. The building of 1,400 new homes on this farmland should begin next year.

"Following the conclusion of the planning application process, we would like to be in a position to start the programme of infrastructure in spring 2024, with our intention to build the first new homes at Whitefields later next year."

The first application is for roads, sewers, SUDS (sustainable urban drainage systems) and landscaping, the other will be for the first of two development pods as the firm prepares to start building their first phase of houses.

The 93 affordable homes will be built in partnership with the council while the 68 private houses will be a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom properties.

Enabling work off Whitefield Road, which included the purchase and demolition of the Wester Whitefield farm buildings, has been completed while work in the vicinity of the farm itself is "progressing well".

The Taylor Wimpey masterplan includes 1,400 new homes, a primary school, provision for shops and community facilities, new cycleways and pedestrian footpaths, meadow grasslands and open space, a play area and measures to enhance the area for local wildlife and improve biodiversity through features such as bug hotels and hedgehog highways.

The plans were approved in January 2019 despite 153 objections.

There will be key transport improvements on Kingseat Road and Whitefield Road, new pedestrian crossings to provide safe routes to school and the development will also incorporate the new Northern Link Road, a £20 million-plus bypass that will take traffic away from the city centre and also serve the new housing estates that are being built in north Dunfermline.

Ms Mills added: "With the delivery of around 1,400 new homes, the creation of major new infrastructure and improvements to existing transport links, as well as the provision of substantial community benefits, Whitefields will be a brand new community and place to call home in north Dunfermline.

"These planning applications mark a significant step in bringing this development forward and they are a demonstration of our commitment to investing in the local area.

“This development has its roots firmly in north Dunfermline while supporting the existing local communities of Kingseat and Halbeath as its new community develops and grows.”