Working with the Energy Agency, East Ayrshire Council secured funding from the Scottish Government which allowed the Housing Asset Services team to extend its external insulation programme to 66 homes in Onthank and 77 homes in Patna.

Funding was offered to private home owners which meant that improvements could be carried out on whole streets when the council’s housing improvement and energy efficiency programmes were already underway.

Energy efficiency features prominently in the Housing Improvement Programme, with £5.49 million identified to be spent on external wall insulation and render works in the current financial year.

Hundreds of homes have already benefitted from external wall insulation and new render finish and this year alone 640 council houses will be upgraded.

As well as improving the thermal efficiency, the smart render finish really lifts the appearance of the houses.

In Onthank 15 private houses and 51 council houses are in the process of being completely rejuvenated, while in Patna, 38 private houses and 39 council houses are involved in the improvement programme.

Councillor Douglas Reid, leader of the council, said: “For a number of years now the council has been successful in bidding for funding to carry out improvement works to Weir and Swedish timber homes across East Ayrshire.

“The results have been so dramatic. The funding has targeted homes in areas that can be fuel poor and it is fantastic to view homes that have benefitted from this improvement programme and talk to homeowners and tenants who are seeing a difference in their energy bills. On average people are saving £270 a year on their heating bills, which is significant for local people.”