The event was attended by Kevin Stewart MSP, minister for local government and housing, who was there to officiate and recognise the progress of the works on the site since the project commenced in September 2016.

A total of 45 houses and flats, all for rent is being delivered on the site comprising a mixture of 2 and 3 bedroom general needs houses, amenity cottage flats for older and less mobile people as well as 2 properties designed specifically for those with wheelchair needs.

A total of £3.55 million has been awarded in grant from the Scottish Government.

The project will take around 13 months to fully complete with overall completion scheduled for October 2017.

The main contractor, Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd, is working closely with the Association to deliver a programme of community benefits with four new apprentices all from Ayrshire starting as a result of this project. In addition, Ashleigh is mentoring a local young person from Kilmarnock Academy and offering them career advice, assistance with presentation skills and with time management.

The perimeter hoarding which surrounds the site has been painted by local school pupils from Kilmarnock Academy, Hillhead Primary and St Joseph’s Academy. The schoolchildren approached the task with enthusiasm and enjoyed the experience. Ashleigh has also visited the local schools to give presentations to the pupils about the construction works and the importance of health & safety as well as running design competitions for the pupils with prizes offered to the successful pupils.

Frank Sweeney, Cunninghame Housing Association’s chief executive, said: “As well as community engagement playing a key role in the delivery of this project, there are also clear economic benefits with new apprenticeships and training opportunities being at the heart of this new development.

“The project is another example of partnership working providing quality houses for rent. We are delighted once again to have the support of our strategic partners East Ayrshire council and the Scottish Government to enable us to deliver these new high quality homes.

“From a works tender sum of £5.36m for the Hill Street site we believe that circa £4.7m or 87 per cent will be recirculated within the Ayrshire economy through the contractors own trades, suppliers and sub contractors.”

Minister for Housing Kevin Stewart MSP said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government’s affordable housing supply programme is able to support this project with a grant of £3.55m. This will support the delivery of these affordable, high quality homes and will help address the demand for social rented housing for people in the East Ayrshire area. We have committed to deliver 50,000 more affordable homes, with 35,000 available for social rent, over the next five years, backed up with investment of more than £3 billion. Projects such as this one today marks another step on the road to delivering that pledge.”

Cllr Reid, leader of East Ayrshire Council, added: “This next phase of regeneration will really make a massive physical change to the Central North area of Kilmarnock and I am really looking forward to a vibrant and transformed Hill Street/Montgomery Street, where we will have helped to create a neighbourhood in which people will continue to be proud to live.”