LOCAL councillor Mark Hood has this week welcomed the start of the redevelopment of the Lochgelly Town House site.

The project will see 16 new council flats created in and around the historic building on the town’s High Street.

The development will work its way west from the town house and see the historic building transformed into four flats and the remainder building on the adjoining land.

Speaking to the Central Fife Times, Mr Hood said, “The start of the build phase marks the end of many months of planning and hard work.

“The 16 new properties will be a welcome addition to the housing stock in Lochgelly and transform this part of the town.

“We will see the first batch of 12 new flats available by the end of 2015, and the remaining four flats part of the redeveloped town house by spring 2016.” The 16 home project is part of the moves to create more affordable homes in the Lochgelly area.

Mr Hood went on, “We have a housing crisis in Fife with thousands of people on waiting lists for new homes and we need to invest in more housing.

“This project marks the first small step in the right direction but as a local authority we have a fixed budget and can only do so much.

“I’m confident that we will reach our manifesto pledge to build 2700 new homes for rent in Fife by 2017, but saddened that this is still not going to be enough”.

Mr Hood, explained how this is part of the wider investment in the town and marks the start of the process that will end with the redevelopment of St Andrews Church as part of the RockGelly Project and the creation of a new town square.

He concluded, “As well as the obvious benefits of new homes, the economic impact of this redevelopment project will be significant for the town.”