Council chiefs have approved purchasing land beside Irvine’s Ayrshire Central Hospital for £2.7million to build around 100 new council houses

It was announced in April that North Ayrshire Council was seeking to purchase surplus land on the hospital site on Kilwinning Road from NHS Ayrshire & Arran to create for new modern, energy-efficient homes.

Cabinet members have now given their approval to purchase the land, subject to agreement between the council and the NHS on the level of abnormal costs associated with the development.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Place at North Ayrshire Council, said: “There is a huge demand for affordable social housing and we are playing our part in helping to build those much-needed new homes.

“This is a fantastic location in Irvine on land which is no longer needed by the NHS so it will be great to see this important site brought back into use and transformed.

“I’d like to pay tribute to our colleagues at NHS Ayrshire & Arran, who have really helped us take this plan forward.”

The development at Ayrshire Central Hospital forms a key part of the council’s ongoing plan to build 1,375 new homes across North Ayrshire by 2024 – one of the most ambitious council housing building programmes in the UK.

The new homes will include a range of general needs homes, amenity bungalows and homes suitable for wheelchair users.

John Wright, NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Director for Corporate Support Services, said: “This vacant land on our Ayrshire Central Hospital site was declared surplus to requirements by Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board on 20 August 2018. We have worked closely with our colleagues in North Ayrshire Council to sell them the land, which will help them deliver this exciting new housing development for the benefit of the people of Irvine.”

Construction works are currently expected to commence on site during 2021 and be complete by spring 2024.

Draft plans are expected to be available for local residents to view during 2020.