East Ayrshire Council’s cabinet has approved a raft of reports aimed at building on close connections within communities and attracting funding for regeneration projects.

The strategic framework for community-led regeneration will allow projects to benefit from both local and national policies, while supporting the area’s recovery from Covid-19.

The framework identifies the priorities for local economic renewal for the next three to five years.

These include new housing programmes, making use of external funding to tackle vacant and derelict land and properties and necessary projects such as the development of the site of the former Castle Hotel site, in New Cumnock.

Council leader Douglas Reid said: “There’s a lot going on in our communities and we’re hugely grateful for the funding opportunities which are available to help us recover and regenerate.”

Councillors also received a progress update on projects in receipt of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), including Ochiltree Community Hub, which has reopened again following a temporary closure during lockdown, and is looking for new opportunities.