COUNCILLORS have approved plans to spend more than £200 million on new homes and improvements to existing Fife Council homes.

They've also agreed to borrow up to another £114m towards the local authority's commitment to 3,500 affordable homes by 2022.

The proposals were agreed at the policy and co-ordination committee last week and will impact on council housing in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area.

Councillor Judy Hamilton, convener of community and housing services, said: "This administration is absolutely committed to working with our tenants.

"We have consulted widely on rent levels – and tenants whose houses are scheduled for improvements over 2019-22, were invited to the Better Homes Exhibition, to look at the improvements that are available.

"They have overwhelmingly told us that their priorities include energy efficiency and improvements to their houses, like new kitchens, bathrooms, windows and insulation."

She added: "In addition to investment in our council houses, tenants have said their top priority is that we continue to build new houses.

"We have our very ambitious Affordable Housing Programme – where we are committed to delivering 3,500 new affordable homes by 2022, creating a programme that supports not only housing, but also the Fife economy and the construction industry with jobs and apprenticeships.

"Today we have agreed how we will fund the programme, including buying land where we need to.”