A ground breaking ceremony has taken place to mark the start of work of a development in East Ayrshire.

The £4m West Langlands Street development will be located in the heart of Kilmarnock town centre.

The project is part of the local authority's town centre house building programme, and will see the former cattle market site transformed to house 39 new, affordable properties. The homes will be a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, three-bed family homes, three-bed homes suitable for wheelchair users and homes specifically designed for older people.

Built in partnership with Mactaggart & Mickel, a large private housing developer, and supported by funding from the Scottish Government, work commenced on the site in November 2013.

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The homes are scheduled for completion in May 2015.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: "The West Langlands Street site is a key part of the Council's Strategic Local Programme which will see over 200 affordable homes being built in town centres throughout East Ayrshire fulfilling our objective to promote town centre living and in turn aid town centre regeneration.

"The West Langlands Street site is steeped in history. The former cattle market is just metres away from Andrew Barclay's Caledonia Works, and the whole area was at one time a thriving industrial scene.

"Demolished in 2009, the cattle market site is set to be bustling once again. With easy access to the town centre, the train station and bus station, these homes are going to provide a vital lifeline to some of our most vulnerable residents while at the same time helping to regenerate a key part of our town."

Peter Shepherd, Director at Mactaggart & Mickel Contracts, added: "We have been delivering developments in partnership with local authorities and housing associations for a number of years and are well-versed in the need to offer value for money without compromising on quality.

"We hope that these much needed affordable homes at West Langlands Street will have a positive impact on the residents when complete, offering them comfortable energy efficient homes."

(JP/IT)