North Ayrshire gets £4.3m boost

£3m has been made available to help regenerate Irvine Bay

Plans to regenerate parts of North Ayrshire and build affordable housing have received a £4.3m funding boost.

Communities Scotland is providing £1.3m to help Cunninghame Housing Association buy a site for new homes in Ardrossan.

The Scottish Executive also announced it is making a further £3m available to Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company (URC).

Deputy Minister for Communities Des McNulty said the money shows the executive's commitment to the area.

The housing association will build 52 homes on the site in Ardrossan involving a mix of shared-equity homes under the Homestake scheme and rented properties.

The Irvine Bay URC funding is subject to the receipt of proposals "to help breathe new life into North Ayrshire".

This funding will help our aim to create mixed, vibrant communities with a range of homes for rent and low-cost ownership Des McNulty Deputy minister for communities

Mr McNulty said: "We have already seen a huge transformation in the area in providing more warm, decent homes that people deserve.

"But we want to do more. This funding will help our aim to create mixed, vibrant communities with a range of homes for rent and low-cost ownership through the Homestake scheme."

Roger Popplewell, Communities Scotland's area director for south west Scotland, said: "This is a tremendous boost for North Ayrshire.

"The acquisition of this site will allow Cunninghame Housing Association to develop high-quality homes for rent and low-cost ownership through Homestake."

Patrick Wiggins, chief executive of Irvine Bay URC, said he was delighted by the announcement.

"This will allow us to build on the momentum we have achieved so far and focus on the delivery of transformational projects that will benefit the people and businesses of North Ayrshire."