East Ayrshire Council has unveiled plans for a £175m boost in the future of housing and housing services over the next five years
The Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) reveals how East Ayrshire Council aims to achieve its commitment to support the Scottish Government’s target of delivering 50,000 affordable homes by 2021.
Plans for investment in housing
The plan identifies affordable housing projects across East Ayrshire over the next five years from 2020-2025 – with a budget of £88m from East Ayrshire Council.
It also includes new-build affordable homes; investment in social housing; returning empty homes to the pools of effective housing stock; increasing the supply of properties suitable for older people and delivering accommodation solutions to allow people to live healthy, independent lives in their own communities.
Up to 985 new, rehabilitated and acquired affordable homes will be provided through the new SHIP, in partnership with local registered social landlords.
The first year of the programme will include the creation of 390 new homes in Newmilns, Kilmarnock, Auchinleck, Drongan and Cumnock.
A further 277 new homes will be introduced during the second year of the plan in Mauchline, New Cumnock, Cumnock, Kilmaurs and Kilmarnock.
During year three of the SHIP, 166 new homes will be created in Kilmarnock, Stewarton, Newmilns and Auchinleck. The remaining 152 homes will be delivered over the two remaining years of the plan, 84 in year four and 68 in year five.
Katie Kelly, deputy chief executive of Safer Communities, said: “Our housing plans are about much more than just the fabric of the buildings. We want to create communities which are safe and secure and the SHIP complements the work already underway across Community Planning partners and communities to help sustain East Ayrshire’s communities.
“There are five developments currently on site, some completed, others nearing completion, namely David Dale Avenue in Stewarton, Tinto Avenue and Fraser Walk in Kilmarnock, Andrew Nisbet Place in Hurlford and Carskeoch Drive in Patna.
“We’ve been working in partnership with CCG on these developments and we’ve seen a significant number of community benefits – we’ve appointed 10 new starts, created 7 new apprentices and implemented 7 work placements. And CCG has distributed £40,000 to community groups where local engagement events have been held with CCG and Vibrant Communities.
“During the life of this Plan we can expect to see more new starts, apprenticeships, and work placements, and support for community groups being delivered by CCG.”
