Property costs in Fife are going through the roof

Proposals were unveiled against a backdrop of soaring house prices in the region, especially near the Forth Bridge and in the north east area.

Rocketing costs and the right to buy legislation have led to a significant increase in homelessness.

The Housing Strategy aims to boost sheltered housing in the region.

Homes boost

Proposals aim to increase the type of housing available to meet a wide range of needs.

They also include proposals for an equivalent of 30% of all new housing developments in Fife to be affordable.

Over the past decade, average house prices in the area have escalated enormously.

A property that would have cost �67,000 in Aberdour in 1994 would now fetch �178,000 on the open market.

Soaring prices are reflected in the East Neuk, where a house in St Andrews costing �90,000 10 years ago will now be worth �183,000.

The harbour town of Anstruther is another place where prices have soared in the last couple of years.

I don't think a council can really buck the market Douglas Robertson Stirling University

Community councillor Martin Dibley said: "We have an influx now of people who live here but work in Edinburgh and also a lot of holidaymakers who have bought second homes here.

"That has pushed house prices up beyond what first time buyers can afford.

"The prices here now start at �85,000 to �90,000 for the smallest property."

He said the generation which should be setting up home and starting a family has all but disappeared.

Mr Dibley added: "We have to look at ways of attracting young people who want to start their life in the area, to get them on the first rung of home ownership. But how we do that is a difficult process."

Fife Council's head of housing, Alan Davidson, told BBC Scotland: "We set out a target in the local housing strategy which says that for every private sector development of 10 or more units, we would look for 30% of these houses to be affordable houses.

Economic factors

"In some instances that will need some public sector subsidy but it's also going to be about developers and builders meeting some of their responsibilities.

"There is a growing acceptance of that need to work together to make sure that what we don't do is simply provide affordable houses on a one-off basis.

"It's got to be part of a continuing process to meet needs."

Douglas Robertson, director of the housing policy and practice unit at Stirling University believes that local authorities are struggling with economic factors which are largely outwith their control.

He said: "I think Fife Council are trying to do the best with the resources they've got.

"But I don't think a council can really buck the market.