New affordable homes plan for Strathkinness taking shape

Around 31 new affordable homes could be built on a site in Strathkinness after council officials were given the go ahead to secure land for the development.

It has emerged that members of Fife’s community and housing services committee gave the green light to plans for land at Bonfield Road following a private session at their meeting last month.

Councillors accepted a recommendation allowing officials to continue negotiations and conclude legally-binding agreements to acquire the land for the construction of affordable homes on the site, as well as adjacent land held in Fife Council’s ownership. Planning consent has previously been given in principle for a maximum of 66 units on the site but the latest bid is for 31 units.

The development has been welcomed by St Andrews Labour councillor Brian Thomson, who said: “A previous proposal by the council to develop 16 affordable units on the council-owned part of the site was unfortunately shelved, due to prohibitive infrastructure costs, but working with the developer of the adjacent land will help to spread the costs and assist with the delivery of an increased number of affordable units.

“I understand that the council is proposing that all 31 of the units would be owned and managed by the council for social rent, and would consist of a range house sizes. There is some way to go before the proposal is finalised – detailed planning permission, for example, is still required – but with a huge level of housing need in the St Andrews and Strathkinness area, this would be a welcome investment in desperately needed new affordable homes.”