The document set out the strategic priorities for tackling housing issues in the area during the following five-year period. It aims to ensure that people live in the right homes, in great places, with access to any support services they need.

Developed in consultation with tenants and residents across North Ayrshire, the strategy sets out the council’s wide-ranging ambitions in diverse areas such as housebuilding, rural housing, homelessness, private sector housing and energy efficiency.

The Local Housing Strategy has four overarching outcomes and progress has been made in each of the categories:

• More homes at the heart of great places – The council has committed to building more than 1,600 new homes across North Ayrshire. So far, 975 have been completed, including recent developments at Fitzsimmons Wynd in Ardrossan, St Mary’s Gardens in Largs, and Longacre Place, Stanecastle, Irvine. Projects currently underway include the council’s largest ever council house development at Ayrshire Central in Irvine, where more than 200 new homes are under construction, and the former Garnock Academy site in Kilbirnie, which will provide 50 new council homes. In addition, the council has been working closely with private developers to increase the availability of new homes, supporting the delivery of 528 new units across North Ayrshire since April 2023. Development is also underway at all five new sites allocated by LDP2 - which together will deliver over 1,000 private sector homes - in addition to other active sites including Montgomerie Park, Irvine, and West Byrehill, Kilwinning.
• Affordability and choice – Strong progress has been made across a range of areas, including the establishment of the Arran Housing Task Force to quantify demand for affordable housing on Arran; creating 123 Housing First tenancies through the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan which is well ahead of target; and expanding the council’s buyback scheme to increase housing availability.
• Affordable warmth and zero emissions – Significant steps have been taken to achieve net-zero carbon status by 2030 and the council’s most recent housing developments incorporate air source heat pumps alongside enhanced fabric measures and solar PV panels. In addition, the Area Based Scheme continues to deliver energy efficiency and low carbon technology to private sector households in hard-to-treat areas, while the council has also offered Energy Smart emergency support payments for those vulnerable to fuel debt.
• Improving the quality of homes – The council’s Estate-Based Regeneration Programme (EBRP) continues to deliver projects to address pockets of low demand stock; antisocial behaviour; external appearance; parking provision; road and footpath condition; fencing; landscaping; and general grounds maintenance issues. Separately, the Sheltered Housing Reprovisioning Programme has most recently delivered the refurbishment of Barnett Court, Saltcoats, and at Cheviot Court, Irvine. Work is expected to commence at Vineburgh Court, Irvine, and Laigh Court, Beith, next year.

Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for Communities, Housing and Islands, said: “I’m delighted to see the rapid progress that has already been made in delivering on the commitments made in our Local Housing Strategy.

“Although we are only two years into a five-year programme, we have taken major strides across a wide range of our housing services.

“The work we deliver through our housing strategy is important because it directly affects one of the most fundamental things many of us take for granted, our homes.”

The Local Housing Strategy will be kept under annual review.