Keith Brown, the Scottish Government Minister for Housing and Transport yesterday (July 3) visited the award-winning Housing Innovation Showcase in Fife  to view the completed houses and meet some of the tenants, who have recently moved into the new energy efficient homes. 

The £3.3m Housing Innovation Showcase was developed by Kingdom Housing Association as a partnership project with Fife Council and supported by Green Business Fife and Fife Construction Forum. The Scottish Government provided funding assistance for the development.

The project provides 27 new rented homes and has been developed using 10 different Modern Methods of Construction.  Architects Oliver and Robb designed the project and Campion Homes was Kingdom’s framework contractor for the infrastructure and external works and one of the projects preferred partners.

The aim of the project is to demonstrate how alternative construction systems and new technologies can be incorporated into mainstream housing projects. 

The systems were developed on serviced plots on the site by 10 different preferred house system partners and have been designed to provide very high levels of thermal efficiency.  

The  new homes will cost significantly less to heat, with total energy costs averaging £300 per year, for each new home. 

During May a Showcase Exhibition was held and over 2,500 people visited the project to learn more about the systems developed on the site. 

Charles Milne, Chairman of Kingdom HA said: “ The project has been challenging for everyone involved, however we feel it has been a great success and there has been very positive feedback received from housing associations, local authorities and others involved in the future provision of affordable housing.  In addition to demonstrating the mainstream capabilities of the house systems, the project has delivered various community benefits, such as training initiatives and educational projects with the local school and colleges”. 

Kingdom are also progressing a 2 year monitoring and evaluation programme in conjunction with Napier University and the programme will assess the design performance with actual energy outputs.  It is the intention to widely share the reports during the evaluation phase of the project.  
 

Housing Minister Keith Brown said: "These houses test and demonstrate different innovative construction methods and allow the construction industry to showcase new and innovative projects.”

“The Scottish Government is committed to the long term sustainability of our housing stock, this is the reason why we were happy to input £2 million into this development. 

“It is very encouraging to hear how young, local trainees are actively involved, in creating sustainable housing to such a high standard and I’d like to add my congratulations to Kingdom Housing Association for this excellent development.”  
 

The project has recently been recognised through various Awards and has won a Scottish Green Apple Environmental Award as well as being shortlisted for the Fife Partnership Excellence and Scottish Homes Awards. 

Councillor David Ross, Chair of the Housing, Communities & Local Services Policy Advisory Group at Fife Council said: “We are delighted with the success of the Housing Innovation Showcase, the interest it has generated and the number of people who visited the site who have commented positively on the project.  The shortlisting for these prestigious awards is welcome recognition for the excellent work done by all involved.  More importantly these houses will meet the housing needs of households in Fife for many years to come, providing real opportunity for housing providers and professionals to take the lessons learned from the showcase and consider the use of alternative construction systems in their developments.”  

Further information on the Housing Innovation Showcase is available on www.housinginnovationshowcase.co.uk