THE next steps for social housing being built at the former Stanecastle school have finally been taken.

It comes more than six months after the council had planned work to begin on the site - with the intention that residents could move in by autumn/winter of this year.

Draft proposals for the development were first brought to the public for consultation back in January of 2022, around the time of the school's demolition.

At that time, there were plans for a 30-home development at the former ASN school.

Though plans have now been amended slightly from the initial draft for the site on Burns Crescent in Girdle Toll.

Rather than 30 homes - now only 29 are to be created.

These 29 homes will include 17 two-bed general needs homes, one four-bed wheelchair accessible house, three two-bed wheelchair accessible bungalows, two three-bed wheelchair accessible houses, four two-bed amenity bungalows.

The final two homes have been designed and tailored for specific needs.

The application has been submitted, on behalf of North Ayrshire Council, by MAST Architects for the social rental homes.

It is for a certificate of lawfullness, which is essentially a means of obtaining a decision from the planning authority that a proposed use or works do not require planning permission.

Obtaining this for the development at the old Stanecastle school, would show that the development will be lawful, and therefore will not run the risk of future enforcement action by the planning authority, if the development goes ahead.

The application was submitted on February 15, and is currently pending consideration.

It can be viewed in full via the council's online planning portal, using reference 23/00112/LUP.