HOUSES in a new council development in the Hall Street area of Lochgelly are now ready to become homes for their first tenants.

The 16 affordable homes are an important part of the regeneration programme for Lochgelly Town Centre recommended by the Lochgelly Charrette in 2010.

The Town House has seen a fabulous conversion into four flats, retaining a number of the original features of the building. A further twelve new flats have been built as part of the development.

There are a mix of one and two bedroomed flats, with those within the Town House to be managed by Ore Valley Enterprises. The new build flats will be managed by Fife Council.

The development has been carried out by Fife Council Building Services with tenants moving in to their new homes from November 14. The converted flats are expected to be completed shortly after.

Leeanne Clark was already living in Lochgelly, and on the Fife Housing Register, looking for her own property as she wanted independent living. She moved into her new property on Hall Street during November and was very pleased in her new home.

She told us: "I am very excited with my new home. My birthday was two days before I received the offer and it was the best present ever."

Cllr Judy Hamilton, Executive Spokesperson for Housing & Building Services visited the site to meet with new tenants. She said, “This is a lovely housing development.

"It’s another excellent example of the housing developments that are being built by Fife Council Building Services, giving opportunities for apprentices to work alongside skilled workers and investing in a skilled workforce for the future. It also means more local contractors and suppliers are trading with us which helps to boost our local economy”.

Cllr Hamilton added: “This development contributes towards our wider commitment of delivering 2,700 new affordable homes by May 2017. We are pleased with our progress on this and our pledge to provide warmer, drier, healthier homes that will help to alleviate fuel poverty and improve living standards for residents.”

This project is part of the Council’s wider Affordable Housing Programme to increase the number of affordable homes for rent across Fife. It is one of a number of sites that have been recently delivered or are under way to meet the council’s target to deliver 2,700 new affordable homes by 2017.