East Ayrshire Council has approved plans to repurpose existing housing stock at Clinchyard Place in Galston to meet the increasing demand for supported accommodation and support Ukrainian refugees.

The proposal involves repurposing four blocks of accommodation, with two blocks allocated to the Health and Social Care Partnership and two blocks allocated for the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees.

This initiative will address the growing need for supported accommodation in East Ayrshire, as highlighted by the Council's recent Housing Need and Demand Assessment.


Councillor Jim McMahon, Cabinet Spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities, praised the collaborative approach: "This proposal is an excellent example of two of our priority services collaborating effectively to find a solution which benefits more than one cause."

Councillor Clare Maitland, Cabinet Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, welcomed the initiative: "Suitable accommodation is an essential element in any individual's life and supported accommodation critically enables those individuals with disabilities to live inclusively and independently."

The project is expected to generate significant cost savings for the Council in the long term.

Works are expected to commence early in 2025, with the refurbishment of the properties anticipated to take between six and twelve months.

This initiative demonstrates East Ayrshire Council's commitment to providing innovative and sustainable housing solutions to meet the evolving needs of its residents.