Fife councillors joined Kingdom Housing Association representatives to mark the beginning of works that will see a mix of 66 badly needed new homes for rent constructed on a greenfield site at Toll Road, Guardbridge.

Fife builders Campion Homes have been appointed as the main contractor to build the new housing in an area close to St Andrews where accommodation is at a premium with local families frequently priced out of the market.

The project is hoped to be completed by early 2016 and will provide 56 homes for social rent and 10 more for mid market rent.

The houses ranging from one and two-bedroomed amenity cottage flats and two and three-bedroomed general needs family homes.

All of the houses are built to high energy efficiency standards and are secured by design in an attractive low density village-style layout.

The project will cost £8.17m and has received grant assistance of £4.29m from the Scottish Government, Scottish Water and Fife Council.

As part of the works, the Scottish Water infrastructure will be upgraded to address the water capacity issue within the area.

Kingdom chairperson Charles Milne said: “This project would not have been possible without the support of our partners to address the water capacity issues in the area. We are really pleased that funding has now been secured to enable work to start on site.”

He added: “Affordable housing demand continues to grow across Scotland and this mixed tenure project will help to meet local needs in the area.”

Cllr Tim Brett, Councillor for the Tayside Ward, said: “I am delighted this much needed development is going ahead and would commend Kingdom Housing for the design of the project and the way in which they have kept the community informed in its development. The new housing will be a boost for Guardbridge and will have excellent transport links to other parts of NE Fife.”

The project has been designed by Montgomery Forgan Architects to comply with various standards including: Housing for Varying Needs; Secured by Design and Building Regulation’s Silver Standard of Sustainability which will help make a contribution to reducing carbon emissions and address issues related to increasing fuel costs for tenants.