The £5.3 million Glencairn House development at Bill Smith Court, Stevenston, has been designed to specifically meet the needs of older residents, as well as showcasing an innovative district heating system.

Featuring 28 high-quality and accessible sheltered homes, the development illustrates North Ayrshire Council’s commitment to provide affordable accommodation that will meet tenants’ needs now and in the future.

The development was officially opened by Provost Ian Clarkson alongside residents who have been enjoying their new surroundings since they first started to move in a few weeks ago.

Council Leader Joe Cullinane explained how North Ayrshire Council was making a huge difference to lives of many older residents.

He said: “This is an amazing facility which will allow our residents to live in high quality, sustainable and fully accessible properties.

“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, and Vennel Gardens in Irvine.

“We can now add Glencairn House to that list, with further sheltered housing developments under way at Canal Court in Saltcoats, Watt Court in Dalry, 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 Glencairn House will be just as happy in their new surroundings.”

Glencairn House replaces Afton and Caley Court and was funded by North Ayrshire Council, with the Scottish Government contributing £1.652m.

It features a landscaped courtyard with a mural made up of handprints from neighbouring Glencairn Primary School pupils - just one of the features which helps provide a homely and relaxed feel to the complex.

Glencairn House is situated on the newly-named Bill Smith Court, and among the guests were the family of the late Mr Smith, a long-serving councillor and dedicated campaigner for Stevenston.

The development also reflects the council’s commitment to energy efficiency with the inclusion of solar panels and a biomass district heating system, shared with Glencairn Primary School. The heating system is powered from renewable, sustainably sourced biomass, which lowers our carbon emissions, and provides lower energy bills for ours tenants. The energy gained from the solar panels goes into the communal supply for the lighting of the building.