Nick Clark

Mr Clark said the Fife-based group is working to build new homes and restore historic buildings in a bid to tackle a long waiting list for social housing, but it is being hampered by increased competition for land.

More than 15,000 people are currently on Fife Council’s waiting list.

But access to land, as well as government funding, is a challenge.

“The same land that is good for social housing is good for private developers, and demand is huge,” Mr Clark told The Courier.

“It means some people will wait decades for affordable homes.

“We are doing what we can, but access to funding, government backing, and availability of land remain the biggest obstacles.”

Cardenden-based Ore Valley currently manages more than 800 homes and three commercial buildings in Fife.

It has 64 new houses under construction at sites in Lochgelly and Lochore.

Despite this, Mr Clark says the waiting list continues to grow. He said: “More homes are being built, but the waiting list keeps growing.

“We have 803 houses and three commercial buildings, the majority of which are social housing.

“The key for us is the Fife Housing Association Alliance – the four Fife housing associations and Fife Council – is working together to lead social housing construction strategically across the region.

“The alliance allows us to coordinate development, ensuring new areas get balanced allocation and avoiding competition for sites.”

Mr Clark pointed to the award-winning development of the former Bowhill Miners Institute as what it can achieve.

It took Ore Valley more than two decades to acquire the building and permission to transform it into social housing.

Finally, in 2021, they were able to start work, and – having invested £3 million – the project came to a close half a year ago.

It now has 10 flats for affordable rent and has won several awards, including new build or renovation project at the Scotland Energy Efficiency Awards.

Mr Clark said: “It was a pigeon roost and we had to save it before it fell down. For us it was an exercise in patience, care and attention. ECD Architects did a fantastic job, because it was touch and go for a while.

“The institute used to be the focal point for the community in Bowhill but then fell to rack and ruin and became a symbol of post-coal industry decline.

“It is not just an historic building, it is more significant than that.

“That’s why we battled for 22 years to get it.”