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MAJOR FUNDING BOOST FOR AYRSHIRE HOUSING

Residents in three Ayrshire housing estates are set to benefit from a new fund which will help demolish unwanted low-quality properties and create 400 new affordable homes.

Deputy Communities Minister, Des McNulty, on a visit to Irvine’s Vineburgh area today, announced that North Ayrshire will receive £2.7 million, East Ayrshire £2.6 million and South Ayrshire £1.6 million from the Housing Estate Regeneration Fund.

Managed by Communities Scotland, the Executive’s housing and regeneration agency, the fund supports local authorities’ housing strategies and local regeneration needs.

In Ayrshire this will fund projects that will build new homes across the three areas, demolish unwanted low-quality housing and pay for the purchase of a major piece of land on which to build affordable housing in the future.

Mr McNulty said:

“In our regeneration policy statement, People and Place, we identified Ayrshire as one of two priority areas for our regeneration efforts, and committed ourselves to deliver change there.

“This award, of over £6 million from Communities Scotland, to demolish poor quality unwanted properties and build new homes will contribute significantly to this commitment. I am pleased to say that these plans will also create jobs and training opportunities for local people.

“This funding is available to support councils who have demonstrated that they can retain their housing stock and meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.

“The information the Ayrshire councils have provided indicates that they can do so.”

FURTHER INFORMATION

1. Details of the expenditure in North Ayrshire are as follows:

Vineburgh
The funding will kick-start the process of regenerating an area of Vineburgh. It will contribute towards a five-year programme of demolitions which will see some 306 low-quality homes razed to the ground. These will be replaced by 200 homes for affordable rent and 50 for purchase through Homestake.

2. Details of the expenditure in East Ayrshire are as follows:

Shortlees, Kirmarnock
The council, in partnership with Atrium Homes, will develop 25 houses for affordable rent and five for purchase through Homestake. The council has shown there is a healthy demand for high quality, affordable housing in the area.

3. Details of the expenditure in South Ayrshire are as follows:

Lochside
The bid will fund the demolition of 132 unwanted, low-quality homes and allow Ayrshire Housing Association to purchase the site. The site will be redeveloped for 100 new homes, 75 will be available for affordable rent and 25 will be for purchase through Homestake.

4. Homestake is Communities Scotland’s shared-equity scheme aimed at people on low incomes who wish to be homeowners but cannot pay the full price for a house. Housing associations will part-fund a share in the property and hold a part ‘equity stake’ in the property with the homeowner. Typically the owner’s share will be between 60 and 80 per cent at the start. Most Homestake owners will have the option later to increase their stake and own their home outright.

Communities Scotland was abolished on 1 April 2008. This is an archived site and the contents may no longer be accurate. If you are looking for information about housing and regeneration, please visit www.scotland.gov.uk For information about regulation and inspection, please visit www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk.