More new council houses to help ease housing emergency in Kirkcaldy and Markinch

Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee has agreed to purchase nine new build houses from Persimmon Homes as part of the ongoing efforts to tackle the housing emergency and provide more affordable homes for local families.

The properties, four in Kirkcaldy and five in Markinch, will be added to the council’s housing stock and let to tenants through the Fife Housing Register. They include a mix of three and four-bedroom houses, helping to meet the demand for family-sized homes.

The homes have recently been completed, making them available for rent in the near future. They are located at Rosslyn Gait (Kirkcaldy) and West Mill (Markinch) Persimmon Homes housing developments. The purchase is being funded through the council’s Housing Revenue Account Capital Plan, alongside support from the Scottish Government.

Councillor Judy Hamilton, the council’s spokesperson for housing, welcomed the latest progress. She said: “We’re continuing to do everything we can to increase the supply of high-quality, affordable housing across Fife. This will make a real difference to tenants who are currently waiting for a house that better suits their needs and then free up more homes for rent as part of the process.

“Acquisitions like this are a key part of our approach in tackling the housing emergency and providing more families with safe, secure, and affordable homes. We’re committed to working with developers and partners to deliver more housing, help ease the pressure on our service and ensure that everyone in Fife has access to live somewhere that meets their needs.”

The decision is part of a wider programme of acquisitions and new build developments being delivered through the council’s Affordable Housing Programme and Housing Emergency Action Plan.

Photo: Cllr Judy Hamilton, housing spokesperson, on a construction site visit to another of Fife's affordable housing programme projects.