Provost Ian Clarkson officially marked the beginning of the construction phase of the development at a special ground-breaking ceremony held last week.

The first phase of the redevelopment of Watt Court will create 22 new homes within a sheltered housing complex, eight amenity bungalows and a Local Housing Office.

The properties will be served by a biomass district heating system shared with Dalry Primary School. The heating system is powered from renewable, sustainably sourced biomass and will lower our carbon emissions as well as providing lower energy bills for our tenants

The second phase of the project will see an additional 15 homes built to the rear of the site, which will provide supported accommodation.

The redevelopment of Watt Court sheltered housing has been designed specifically to meet the needs of the older population in North Ayrshire.

The works will be phased to allow the residents of the existing sheltered housing complex to remain in their current homes until their new properties are complete.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, cabinet member for place, said: “One of our major priorities at North Ayrshire Council is to create homes that are suitable for the long-term needs of local residents.

“Once complete, this new sheltered housing complex at Watt Court will deliver that by being fully accessible and easily adaptable to cater for the varying needs of our older population.

“In the past few years we have refurbished or redeveloped a number of complexes, including Robert W Service Court in Kilwinning, Montgomery Court in Kilbirnie, Vennel Gardens in Irvine and George Aitken Court, Ardrossan.

“We are also about to formally open 28 new sheltered homes at Glencairn House, Stevenston, with further sheltered housing developments under way at Canal Court, Saltcoats, and at Dickson Court in Beith.

“The results of these transformations have been first class and the residents have given us hugely positive feedback on their new surroundings. We hope that residents at Watt Court will be just as pleased.”

It is hoped that the first phase of the project, which is being delivered by Ashleigh (Scotland) Limited, will be completed by Autumn 2019 with the second phase of the project delivered by Spring 2020.