Community Benefits Example
Kingdom Housing Association - Hunter House Kirkcaldy
In March of 2021, Kingdom Housing Association successfully completed work to transform the Category B listed Hunter House in Kirkcaldy into a supported living unit for people who find themselves frequently homeless and for whom a traditional individual tenancy approach does not work.
The project not only supports the Rapid Rehousing Strategy in Fife but also ensures the longevity of a classic building in Kirkcaldy town centre.
The £880,000 conversion provides five self-contained flats along with two common areas to provide support for tenants.
Kingdom Housing Association (KHA) is a Registered Social Landlord with charitable status, providing housing across East Central Scotland meet a wide range of needs. This has included developing more than 5000 affordable homes – many for social rent – in addition to mid-rarket rent, affordable housing for sale and factoring services.
Community Engagement
Having acquired the property in 2020, KHA undertook community engagement through a series of consultation events with neighbouring residents to share their vision for the project.
Whilst this is often obligatory for large private or public sector developments, it is not always the case for smaller developments or refurbishment projects.
However, simple community engagement through events or local communications can result in delivering more successful community benefit outcomes. This may include through developing links with local community organisations and good causes.
Community Benefits
Conversion works were designed by Bracewell Stirling Consultants and completed for Kingdom by Campion Homes.
Working in partnership with their supply chains, KHA were able to ensure that both the local workforce and good causes received community benefits:
“In addition to the conversion of this historic building into 5 high quality affordable homes, it has enabled a range of Community Benefits to be delivered including 2 new apprenticeships, 3 existing apprenticeships and the creation of 2 new labouring jobs. Campion Homes have also made a financial donation to the local food bank and funded the furniture starter packs for the new Hunter House homes. The project is an excellent example of what can be achieved through collaborative working"
Kingdom Homes also operates Kingdom Works, the association's employability project,. This offers a range of support to enter employment and training – including assistance with CVs, applications, interviews and links with local employers. Additional training academies are also delivered in construction, warehousing and security sectors.
To find out more about Kingdom Works programme of community benefits and employability initiatives, visit https://www.kingdomhousing.org.uk/fife-works/.