The Repurposing Property Grant Fund is being created to help support landowners and community groups to bring back vacant land and properties to use.

It is another strand of the ambitious Community Wealth Building Strategy and Regeneration Delivery Plan – where the North Ayrshire Council works more closely than ever with community groups to make the most of local assets – and long-term plans to regenerate the area.

North Ayrshire has around 250 sites and buildings that are characterised as being derelict and vacant.

While funding has been secured from a range of sources including the Scottish Government to support the regeneration of some of these areas, it was felt more could be done by targeting certain sites. It was felt that, if it didn’t solve the issues, it would open dialogue and discussion to generate ideas and opportunities for the areas.

The first phase of the Fund is worth £200,000 and will allow landowners or community groups to carry out feasibility studies to identify potential options for the sites and their viability.

Councillor Joe Cullinane, leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “This is a really exciting development as this is a fund that can have a really positive impact on communities across North Ayrshire.

“There is no doubt that some of these areas have been a blight on communities for a number of years now and we feel that this a positive step in doing something about it.

“This Fund has been developed with a view to reinvigorating discussion on and identifying the potential of these local sites. We hope it will address the re-purposing of town centre buildings and vacant land to support economic recovery.”

A maximum of £10,000 is available for sites under one hectare and a maximum of £25,000 for larger sites.

The £200,000 fund includes a £110,000 contribution from North Ayrshire Ventures Trust – a grant programme to enable voluntary, community and social enterprises in North Ayrshire to explore new opportunities for these sites and improve long-term sustainability.

The potential for further stages of the Fund to support project delivery following the feasibility stage will be informed by the outcome of the first round.

Any landowner or group wishing to express their interest should e-mail regeneration@north-ayrshire.gov.uk by 12 noon on November 1.