South Ayrshire Council to build 600 affordable homes

Housing: Photo credit: South Ayrshire Council

South Ayrshire Council has announced ambitious plans to build almost 600 affordable homes over the next five years.

The local authority said the houses will help meet existing needs.

Priority areas for future development include Ayr, Prestwick, and Troon, and the council will be working with registered social landlords and private partners to help deliver the plans.

Councillor Philip Saxton, portfolio holder for housing and customer services said the plan set a positive blueprint.

“I’m sure that families across South Ayrshire will welcome this commitment to build more new affordable homes, with several hundred new properties planned for the coming years.

“There are clear areas of high demand and we’ll be working closely with communities in the months ahead to make sure that we deliver new housing stock that meets local needs wherever possible.

“Importantly we have the flexibility to identify new sites as they become available and incorporate new land into the plan as appropriate, meaning there is potential for further development in future.”

As many as 580 properties will be delivered using a mix of council resources, prudential borrowing and central funding. The council said the full investment is still being worked out

New build properties will maximise energy efficiency as part of wider efforts to reduce fuel poverty.

Other initiatives being looked as part of the council’s wider housing strategy include the adaptation of existing homes to allow people to continue to live longer in their communities.