Work is continuing at the site of the former Witchhill School in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

The £1.8m redevelopment on Witch Road will play a key role in the Council's strategic priority of promoting town centre living, and will provide assisted living flats for tenants with a range of support needs.

There would be 13 one-bed flats and a staff base within the two-storey building.

Six of the flats will be specially designed for wheelchair users, while the other seven will be available for tenants with a variety of support needs.

Built in partnership with McTaggart Construction and supported by funding from the Scottish Government, work commenced on site in January. The homes are due for completion in January 2015.

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Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: "Witch Road in Kilmarnock is at the heart of the Council's commitment to promoting town centre living which, in turn, will aid regeneration.

"Coupled with the Council's housing development at West Langlands Street and the new Ayrshire College on Hill Street, this part of the town is going to become a thriving area once again. It will be the perfect place to live with easy access to the town centre's shops and essential services.

"Witch Road is a particularly exciting build. The tenants will be supported from a few hours a week to 24hours a day dependent on each individual tenant's needs.

"This is going to be life changing for some of our most vulnerable residents. The development will allow people to live as independently as possible within their own homes."

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess added: "Regeneration projects such as this one in Kilmarnock help inject new life into an area.

"This development, which has benefited from £644,000 of Scottish Government support, will provide tailored accommodation for people with a range of support needs, encouraging independent living while ensuring the appropriate level of assistance is on hand for residents."

(JP/MH)