East Ayrshire Council's plans for further investment in local infrastructure for East Ayrshire have been approved.

The Council's current 10-year Capital Investment Programme has been in place since 2009-10, with a value of £200m. However, under the new proposals, the plan will be extended to 2022-23 with a revised total investment value of £300m.

The programme includes funding to be borrowed over the next ten years and is divided up as:

•£61m for roads


•£64m for schools projects

•£14m for projects linked to regeneration

•£20m for major building repairs with an aim to bring all schools to an above average condition.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, said: "Since the original programme was launched in 2009, there have been a number of updates, incorporating revisions to the existing schemes and the addition of new projects.

"Our original Capital Programme was ambitious – and in the first four years of that programme, we successfully delivered over £128m of capital infrastructure projects, including: new and refurbished schools; new office developments; new sports and leisure facilities; the refurbished Palace Theatre and new community facilities.

"As the Council continues to transform its business, it is vital that we have clear plans in place to support our priorities. Investing now will result in reduced annual running costs in the future."

(JP/CD)