The funding for project will be assisted by subsidy as part of the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Investment Programme for Fife.

The detailed proposals have still to be developed and further community consultation will take place, however, the project, at Pitscottie Road in Cupar, is scheduled to begin next year with a first phase of 30 homes to be completed in 2017 with the next phase of 19 houses to be finished in 2018.

All of the homes will be for rent and will be the first new social rented homes to be developed by Kingdom in Cupar for several years. They will be highly energy efficient, and Kingdom hope to work with Sustainable Cupar in its efforts to develop a district heating energy centre in the town to supply heat and power to the development.

Kingdom chief executive Bill Banks said he was “delighted” by the approval.

He said: “We have consulted closely with the local community and will continue to do so as we commence work on detailed plans.”

He added: “The housing mix has yet to be finalised, but will include a range of house types and sizes from cottage flats, bungalows, and houses and from 1 bedroom properties to 4 bedrooms. There is a particular need in the town for more affordable family housing with 3 bedrooms, so we will ensure a substantial number of such homes. Most of the homes will be two stories in height, with a few being of single storey.”

With strong demand for affordable housing in the Cupar area, Kingdom anticipates the Pitscottie Road being the one of several affordable housing projects over the next decade in the county town.