Flats previously earmarked for demolition in Saltcoats are to be refurbished and used to house Ukrainian war victims.
Five blocks of three-storey flats in Glebe Place will be upgraded after North Ayrshire Council received £486,000 funding through the Scottish Government’s Ukraine Longer-Term Resettlement Fund.
Up to 30 properties will be brought back into use for a period of three years after which they will be reassessed as part of the council’s new build housing programme.
This enables the council to retain their commitment of 1,625 new homes by March 31, 2027.
The flats were scheduled for demolition following the successful rehousing of tenants to alternative accommodation with plans for the vacated site to be redeveloped in 2024-25.
North Ayrshire Council leader Marie Burns said: “We have welcomed more than 200 Ukrainians to North Ayrshire and are ready to welcome more in the coming weeks and months.
“With funding now secured from the Scottish Government’s Ukraine Longer-Term Resettlement Fund, we are looking to begin improvement works within the next few weeks.
“While there is understandable uncertainty for anyone arriving here from Ukraine, it’s important that they feel secure and supported – having that secure tenancy will help. We want them to feel like North Ayrshire is a home away from home.”
Minister with Special Responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine Neil Gray added: “ I want to thank North Ayrshire Council for their creativity in finding local solutions that boost the overall supply of homes at a time when they are needed most.
“This week, I have written to local authorities and social landlord representatives across the country to encourage them to look at their current housing supply and identify unused accommodation so that we can increase the supply of available accommodation and provide people from Ukraine with safe and secure homes for their time here.”
Through the fund, up to £50 million has been made available to councils and registered social landlords to bring properties back into use that would otherwise not be available to let.
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