Work has started on a new affordable housing project created through a partnership between Clackmannanshire Council and Kingdom Housing Association.

Representatives from the council and Kingdom HA recently met at the site and visited the nearby project in Tullibody.

The Tillicoultry project, which will cost £2.5 million, will provide 21 new homes for social rent on the site of the former Community Centre which was demolished in 2013. The local authority was awarded £782,000 from the Scottish Government Town Centre Fund to assist the development.

There is a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom homes being provided and the majority (17) have been designed as single storey amenity bungalows. The remaining 4 new homes are cottage flats.

All the properties at both Tillicoultry and Tullibody have been designed to high energy efficiency standards in accordance with Building Regulations Silver Standard of Sustainability and Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery Systems are being installed to optimise indoor air quality to help create a healthier environment.

Energy Monitoring Meters are being installed and the projects have been designed to Secured by Design Standards. Community Benefits will be delivered through the projects in partnership with Tillicoultry Community Council and Training and Employment Initiatives have been incorporated into the contract.

Representatives from both Clackmannanshire Council and Kingdom also visited the site at Alloa Road, Tullibody, where Kingdom are on site with a project of 27 new affordable homes for social rent.

Council leadler Cllr Les Sharp said: “I am delighted to see work begin on this site in Tillicoultry. This partnership project demonstrates our commitment to increasing the number of houses available for rent in our communities. This can only be described as another good news story for Clackmannanshire.

“This multi-million pound initiative is another example of this Council investing to Make Clackmannanshire Better by providing quality, new affordable housing.”

The Alloa Road, Tullibody project is Kingdom’s first project in Clackmannanshire and they have a future programme in the pipeline. Kingdom’s Board members visited various projects in the area during the recent visit.

Charles Milne, chairperson of Kingdom HA, said: “Kingdom has a long and successful track record of developing new affordable housing projects and this success is largely due to the partnership relationships we have developed with the Councils in the areas where we operate.

“Clackmannanshire Council has been very supportive and I am very pleased we have been able to work collaboratively with them on their Tillicoultry project and our development programme for Clackmannanshire.”

The 27 new homes being developed on the Alloa Road, Tullibody site are being built to the same high quality standards as the Tillicoultry project.

The Tullibody project started on site in February and the contract is due to be completed early in 2016. The project cost is £2.9 million and Kingdom will receive £1.7 million in Scottish Grant subsidy to allow them to provide the new homes for social rent.

The Contractor for the Tullibody project is Campion Homes Ltd and Marshall Construction Ltd are building the Tillicoultry project. Local Architects Bracewell Stirling has designed both projects.