A SCOTTISH sporting legend hosted an event where East Ayrshire Council were double winners.

Cyclist Marc Beaumont was presenting the inaugural Scottish Procurement Alliance awards at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow.

With partners, CCG (Scotland) Ltd, the council won Most Innovative Project for Hearth Place, Cumnock and Best Housing Project for Barbieston Road, Dalrymple.

In Hearth Road, seven pre-fabricated properties built after World War II were converted and upgraded.

Meanwhile, Barbieston Road was the site of a £1.74m development, providing 11 new affordable homes for rent in the heart of the village.

Councillor Elena Whitham, cabinet member for housing and communities said: “The Hearth Place project was extremely innovative. The temporary pre-fab homes built after the Second World War were only designed to last 15 years.

“We spoke to our tenants about the best way forward and they felt very strongly that they wanted to remain within this location.

“It was then over to CCG to develop a solution that allowed the existing shell of the house to remain while transforming the interior into modern, comfortable and energy efficient homes.

“I am delighted that this excellent project has been recognised by the Scottish Procurement Alliance and has won Most Innovative Project.”

Council leader, Douglas Reid, added: “The Barbieston Road housing development has been built on the site of the former community centre and library which have been relocated to new, modern facilities within Dalrymple Primary School.

“The houses were designed to a very high standard and built using modern methods of construction. This makes them energy efficient, helping to keep energy bills down.”