Council to buy homes for families

Fife Council is to buy four brand new family homes in a bid to meet high demand. The three-bedroom properties in High Valleyfield will help reduce the waiting list for families in need of larger rental houses in west Fife.

The houses are within a single terraced block in Catherines Wynd, said to be a popular area.

Housing spokesperson Judy Hamilton said the pressure on the council’s housing service is relentless.

This is despite Fife having one of the UK’S largest social housebuilding programmes, delivering over 7,400 houses since 2012.

The Labour councillor said: “To help meet that increasing demand, it’s vital we continue to engage with private sector landowners, land agents and developers, as well as developing land and buildings the council already owns.”

The decision to buy was agreed in private during the council’s cabinet committee on Thursday.

And Ms Hamilton added: “In this case, I’m pleased we have agreed to acquire these muchneeded houses that can be quickly allocated to waiting families.

“There are no council housing developments proposed for the village in the next few years and the acquisition of these highquality homes represents value for money for our affordable housing programme.”

Fife Council declared a housing emergency in March.

It became the fourth Scottish local authority to make the declaration after Glasgow, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute.

Labour’s housing spokesperson Judy Hamilton said at the time a 26% cut to the Scottish Government’s affordable housing budget had been the last straw.

The reduction means the loss of a potential £9 million for Fife, she said.

Councillors also raised concerns over the impact it would have on the number of affordable homes the council could provide.

They asked head of housing John Mills to develop an emergency action plan in partnership with homeless charity Shelter Scotland and others.

It is due to be presented to the cabinet committee next month.

As of March, there were 13,566 people currently waiting for a council house in Fife.

And 1,105 households, including 370 children, are living in temporary accommodation.

HOMES: Four properties will be bought in High Valleyfield.