The landmark 71-unit development at Irvine’s Harbourside was officially opened earlier this summer.

And this week, Mr McLennan viewed the new homes and sheltered housing complex, which have been sympathetically designed to blend in with the Harbourside’s unique setting.

The minister said: “Irvine Harbourside is a picturesque location to build safe, warm and affordable homes that fit into the stunning surroundings. The development is also an example of how different generations can live together, in housing that meets their needs.”

“These 71 affordable new homes were supported by £4.97 million Scottish Government funding. This is part of our commitment to deliver at least 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032. At least 70 per cent of these will be for social rent and 10 per cent will be in remote, rural and island communities.”

Mr McLennan was welcomed on his tour of the new homes by cabinet member for Green Environment and Economy Tony Gurney.

Councillor Gurney said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister to North Ayrshire and demonstrate the real-life benefits our new generation of affordable, energy-efficient homes are bringing to people’s lives.

“Although only recently opened, our tenants have quickly settled into their new homes at Irvine Harbourside and the feedback has been hugely positive. One of the key elements of the development was ensuring that the homes fitted into the stunning landscape of the harbourside, and we firmly believe that we have achieved that.

“They are emblematic of the type of homes we are building across North Ayrshire – designed with the needs of our residents in mind and built in locations they would like to live. Not only that, but we are playing our part in combatting the climate crisis by ensuring all our homes meet the Scottish Government’s Greener Homes standard.”

The £15m development – which was supported by almost £5m of Scottish Government grant funding – provides a mix of general needs houses, amenity bungalows and homes for wheelchair users. It also includes a sheltered housing complex, called Alfred Nobel House.

With a spacious, landscaped garden area and two lounges for the sheltered housing residents - including one which overlooks the harbour – the residents are benefiting from able to socialise freely with each other, helping to reduce social isolation and create a sense of community.

The homes at Irvine Harbourside feature a range of sustainable features across the site, including solar photovoltaic panels to help reduce energy bills, provision for future installation of electric vehicle charge points in driveways and a low emission communal heating system for the sheltered homes and some amenity bungalows.

The development also reached gold accreditation for Secure by Design with Police Scotland recognising the ‘well considered access, passive surveillance and landscaping’.

North Ayrshire Council has committed to building 1,625 new homes across the area by 2028. It has so far delivered more than 850 new homes with many more currently on site and in the planning stage.