East Ayrshire Council’s strategic partner CCG (Scotland) Ltd is heading up the new builds.

The site, which was previously occupied by council-owned blocks of flats, will deliver high quality, energy-efficient homes in a range of sizes and types, and will include two specially designed homes for wheelchair users with integral carports.

Councillor Douglas Reid, leader of the council was joined at the official ground breaking by local members councillors Barry Douglas and Jon Herd and Shona Milligan from the community council.

Councillor Douglas Reid said: “New Farm Loch is an area where we have high demand for affordable housing. The Fraser Walk site, which used to house council-owned blocks of flats, accommodate 56 new build homes with associated landscaping and a communal area with play equipment for younger children. This development, which will be completed summer 2020, is going to regenerate the centre of New Farm Loch while providing a wide range of home styles and sizes to meet the varying needs of our residents. Creating affordable homes, supporting the local building industry and creating jobs for local people; the housing building programme within East Ayrshire is changing both lives and the local townscape. I was delighted to perform the official sod cut.”

Calum Murray, director of CCG, added: “Our work with East Ayrshire Council is continuing to bring benefits to communities across the region with new, modern, affordable homes that are highly energy efficient as well as a range of job and training opportunities. Working with the communities in which we operate will always be an integral part of CCG’s ethos and we are delighted to state that as a result of the Fraser Walk project, CCG has been able to donate £10,000 to a number of community-based projects in Kilmarnock.”

All of the new homes, which are being delivered through the Scottish Procurement Alliance, will meet Housing for Varying Needs and Secure by Design standards and Silver Standard accreditation.

The site is being developed as part of the Scottish Government’s target to deliver 50,000 affordable homes by 2021.

It is in keeping with East Ayrshire Council’s vision that “Everyone in East Ayrshire to be able to afford and have access to a quality home that meets their needs and aspirations, and is located within a safe and attractive neighbourhood in which they are proud to live.”