South Ayrshire Council has said it has agreed to purchase five former Ministry of Defence homes in the area.

The three-bedroom properties at Outdale Avenue, Prestwick, will be fully upgraded and modernised to meet Scottish Housing Quality Standards and, when complete in 2015, will be made available for rent to council tenants.

Welcoming the agreement with the MoD, Councillor Philip Saxton, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: "We've already built 102 new homes in South Ayrshire the last three years and plan an additional 59 homes in the next year, but demand for Council accommodation in Prestwick is particularly high, especially for three bedroom properties.


"Meeting that demand is challenging in Prestwick due to so few properties and vacant sites on which to build, which is why the purchase of the MoD homes is such welcome news."

He added: "Our aim is to get these houses fully refurbished and back on the market for rent to Council tenants as fantastic homes for people who need them most.

"I look forward to seeing these houses when the improvement work is complete and to welcoming their new tenants shortly after."

(JP/CD)