New Kingdom housing project for Kirkcaldy

The new homes, for mid-market rent, will be built in two separate blocks of fourteen 2-bedroom flats and a single 1-bedroom flat at Ferrard Road, a few minutes walk from Kirkcaldy train station.

The Scottish Government has provided £500,000 to support the project and priority will be given to eligible applicants who have a need for affordable housing, who are employed, or have an offer of employment, and meet the qualifying income thresholds.

The project, which is being developed for Kingdom by local developer,Abbotshall Homes, is due to start on site in July and is programmed for completion in May 2016.

The flats have been designed to a high quality standard. The design criteria for the project includes, full compliance with Housing for Varying Needs standards, Secured by Design and it will achieve the Scottish Government’s Greener Sustainability Standards.

Bill Banks, chief executive at Kingdom, said: “Our objective is to provide affordable housing to meet a full range of housing needs and although our priority is to provide social rented housing, we fully recognise that many people are in housing need and for a range of reasons, they may be a lower priority for social rented housing or are unable to access owner occupation, Therefore, their housing options are very limited. Mid Market Rent provides an affordable housing option to help address these barriers.”

Mr Banks added: “Sustainability is one of Kingdom’s core objectives and the design and specification for the Ferrard Road project contributes to this objective, through the high insulation standards specified and the predicted low energy use and fuel costs. This will help tenants reduce their energy costs, making their total housing costs more affordable. The flats have been designed to a very good specification and we expect very high demand for them.

Jim Murphy, director at Abbotshall Homes, said: “We are pleased to be the main contractor in the construction of 15 flats for Kingdom Housing Association at our development off Ferrard Road, Kirkcaldy.

“These flats will be constructed to complement our private apartments on the same development using the same external finishes and will complete the Oriel Road area of the site.”

The project is being developed by Kingdom Housing Association, and the Association will retain ownership of the flats when completed, However, Kingdom will lease the flats to its subsidiary, Kingdom Initiatives, which will let and manage the properties.

The rents for the mid market rented properties will be higher than social rented properties, but lower than private sector rents in the area. The rent for a 2 bed flat will be in the region of £418 per month.

Kingdom has already developed around 175 homes for Mid Market Rent in Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, and Cellardyke and is currently on site with further Mid Market Rent projects in Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Guardbridge, with other projects planned for other areas over the next few years.