The Cabinet will meet this week to consider a proposal from East Ayrshire Council, who is seeking £3.877m in funding from the Scottish Government to construct 134 new council houses.

Under the terms of new government guidance on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, the Council has been invited to submit details of the Strategic Local Programme by 21 September 2012.

Of the 134 properties planned, 53 will include properties suitable for older and ambulant disabled residents, wheelchair users and supported accommodation.

A number of new town centre sites are included within the proposed programme, including:

• 
39 properties at West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock


• 10 properties at Ayr Road, Cumnock

• 
31 properties at Chapel Lane, Galston


• 10 properties at Skeoch Road, Mauchline


• 
22 properties at Portland Street, Kilmarnock


• 14 properties at Witch Road, Kilmarnock
8 properties at Rennie Street, Kilmarnock

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “In recent years our ambitious house building programme has successfully delivered affordable new homes throughout East Ayrshire. Since January 2011, 50 new council homes have been built to the tune of £6 million and with another 10 properties at Grassyards Road, Kilmarnock soon to be completed. These homes have transformed the lives of local people who are benefitting from significant investment by the Council in partnership with the Scottish Government.

“Over the last 5years we have done much to regenerate our town centres and all of the feedback we have received points to the need to tackle some brown field sites and support people living in our town centres once again.

“As with previous developments of this nature this will present procurement and developer opportunities for employment and supporting local businesses including local Registered Social Landlords. We estimate that we have already supported around 100 companies based in the west of Scotland through contracts relating to our existing capital programmes.

“The new sites that have been chosen by the Council reflect our ambition to breathe life back into the heart of our towns and bring new prosperity which will benefit the entire community. From the resources that are available to the Council, strict criteria had to be applied to each development site and tough choices had to be made to take this initiative forward.”

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