It is hoped the first phase of demolition and building work will start in Inverkeithing’s Fraser Avenue this year.
Since Fife Council agreed a masterplan to inject a new lease of life into the beleaguered street, work is still making progress.
And despite several issues which still need to be ironed out, both Fife Council and its partner Kingdom Housing Association hope work gets underway on site this year, even though there is still a “significant amount” of work to be undertaken before demolition can start.
The timescale for starting demolition depends on Fife Council’s ability to relocate tenants within and outwith Fraser Avenue and on surveys which are being carried out.
That includes moving tenants and residents out of homes in the area.
Relocating tenants is, in part, dependent on turnover of housing stock in Inverkeithing, Rosyth and across other parts of Fife.
Housing is in short supply, south west Fife councillors heard, and turnover is not something the local authority can control.
Tenants who want to leave and not return are being rehoused and there are now only four tenants without a permanent offer of a new home in the first phase.
So far 67 tenants and owners have been rehoused on a permanent basis and there is still one owner-occupier in phase two to be rehoused.
Kingdom Housing has written to all the tenants who want to be rehoused locally once the first phase of the new development is built with an indication of the house size and type they will be offered.
There are also asbestos and ecology surveys being staged at this time which will also impact on when work gets underway.
The results of the ecology study will not be known until this June and depending on what is found demolition work will be completed around September or December.
Internal and external asbestos surveys are needed for all flats with results influencing the cost and approach to demolition.
This is because if asbestos is discovered it will have to be removed first.
