Housing estate project hailed

A pilot project that aims to rejuvenate a housing estate in Dunfermline has been hailed as an example that could be followed elsewhere in Fife.

Members of the council’s city of Dunfermline area committee have backed work on two blocks of flats in Touch and have agreed a new action plan that should lead to other properties in the area being revamped.

Officials say the plan to refurbish the two fully-owned council buildings in Gilfillan Road will demonstrate what can be achieved in multi-tenure blocks and at what cost.

Lock-up garages at the site have also been earmarked for demolition and will be replaced with parking spaces.

The news has been welcomed by councillors, amid concerns about the condition of many flats in the estate.

Mhairi Mullen, housing manager, said: “While not difficult to let, it can sometimes take longer to get the flatted properties allocated, with refusal rates around 8% higher in Touch than across Dunfermline areas.”

Around £300,000 is expected to be spent on the Gilfillan Road blocks, although exact costs have yet to be confirmed.

The aim is to roll out the refurbishment programme to the remainder of Gilfillan Road, Pierson Road, Henryson Road and Law Road.

Councillors expressed concerns that around 45% of the estate is privately owned, which would mean negotiations with owners about contributions to improvements.