New City House, a former Fife Council office building in Dunfermline, has been converted into 32 affordable homes as part of a £7.4m regeneration project.
The building, originally constructed as a hospital in 1895 before later serving as council headquarters, had stood vacant before being redeveloped by Campion Homes in partnership with Kingdom Housing Association.
The project involved close collaboration with Oliver and Robb Architects, BSA Engineers and Fife Council’s planning department to retain the character of the original building while delivering contemporary living spaces.
Structural alterations were made to the existing roof trusses to bring them up to current construction standards, and a district air source heat pump was installed to provide low-carbon heating across the building. The developers said the system would improve long-term energy performance and reduce operational emissions.
With no crane access to the site, materials and components had to be carried through the building by hand, requiring what the developers described as careful planning and coordination throughout construction.
New City House now provides a mix of two- and three-bedroom mid-market rent flats, each with a B energy rating.
The scheme was supported by £3.1m of Scottish government funding, part of its wider programme to address housing need in Scotland.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP for Dunfermline, said: “I was able to visit New City House during the construction process and I was hugely impressed that an empty office building will now be somewhere that dozens of people can call home. A few years ago, I called for this building to be turned into affordable housing, so I am delighted to see this come to fruition.”
Dougie Herd, joint managing director at Campion Homes, said: “New City House has not been without its challenges, with some parts of the building dating from the 1800s. But with a clear vision, innovative engineering, and high-quality tradesmanship, we have been able to create 32 spacious homes at affordable rents and bring what would be an empty building back into use.
“As a family-run business headquartered in the city, we are committed to seeing regeneration projects like this be successful. We have a longstanding relationship with Kingdom Housing Association, and I want to thank them and Fife Council for helping to create an excellent new community right in the heart of the city.”
Sean Whittet, development manager at Kingdom Housing Association, said: “The regeneration of New City House has shown what can be done to breathe new life into empty buildings. The high-quality, energy-efficient living offered in the 32 affordable homes here shows how innovative development can boost and benefit communities. It has been a great example of what is achievable with a collaborative approach between trusted partners. We’re proud to work with Campion once more to provide more than a home to our customers.”
Main image: New City House
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