A MULTIMILLION pound investment in housing has been agreed by East Ayrshire Council to ensure that communities have access to a range of good quality, affordable homes.

In the last 10 years, the council has completed 477 new affordable or reconfigured homes across East Ayrshire and improved thousands of existing homes.

Last week, at a special meeting of cabinet, investment of £182.7m was agreed to continue this trend.

Work is currently underway on a number of new sites including at Mill O’Shield Road and Hannahston Avenue in Drongan, where 14 new council homes of various types and sizes are being built, and at Quarry Knowe in Auchinleck, where a smaller-scale eight unit assisted living development is being built.

Registered Social Landlord (RSL) partners have also started new developments in Mauchline, Crosshouse and Kilmaurs that will see 60 properties being built across the three sites.

Council Leader, Douglas Reid, said: “Communities are being regenerated across East Ayrshire thanks to the council’s investment in new homes and improving existing homes.

“I have visited every development and spoken to local people and our tenants in each area. These homes are not only transforming communities, they are transforming lives.

“By engaging with our local communities and working closely with the East Ayrshire Federation of Tenants and Residents, we are focused on future proofing our communities, not just our buildings and ensuring that local needs are met.

“To help tackle the climate emergency, our developer CCG (Scotland) Ltd, uses off-site manufacturing methods that help to make the Council’s new homes warmer and heating more efficient while creating jobs and training opportunities for local people.”

The Housing Investment Programme (HIP) has also seen in the region of £74m invested in the council’s housing stock over five years.

This means that more than 4,000 homes have been installed with new energy efficient heating systems and 2,100 homes have received new kitchens, bathrooms and electrical upgrades.

Cllr Jacqui Todd, warned: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on our work and the previous improvement programmes... and means that the supply of materials remains a significant issue.”