LOCHGELLY, last year’s winner of Scotland’s most improved town, was the venue for the 11th Fife House Builders Forum.

More than 70 delegates from across the industry came together to discuss the recent upturn in Fife and debate how this growth can be nurtured and sustained.

The event, at the Lochgelly Centre, was organised by Fife Council’s economy, planning and employability service.

Hazel Cross, an economic advisor with the council's town centre development unit, showcased Lochgelly’s journey to becoming Scotland’s most improved town.

Other topics included affordable housing; the importance of small and medium sized builders to the diversity and supply of new housing; the opportunities and blocks in maintaining housing growth; the need for change, challenge and collaboration in increased housing delivery; and the infrastructure enabling development to take place.

They also discussed the importance of the house building industry to achieving £3 billion investment in strategic growth in Fife and the training offered by Fife College to the future needs of the construction industry.

The forum was chaired by Councillor Altany Craik, who said: "It is pleasing to see the commitment of all parts of the development community to delivering investment, skills, jobs and, above all, houses for the people of Fife.

"The prospects for further growth in the house building sector are good and Fife Council will work with the industry to sustain and increase this growth.

"Central to this is the highly successful Affordable Housing Programme and the council's continuing drive to build on the previous success of 2,700 affordable homes already on the ground."