Cunninghame Housing Association plans to build the development on the outskirts of the town across from the learning campus.

A report for a meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s economy and resources committee states that Cunninghame would like to build 58 social rented homes at Port Road, with a mix of houses and bungalows as well as two wheelchair accessible properties.

Councillors will be asked to include the proposal in the local authority’s strategic housing investment plan (SHIP), which sets out the council’s housing priorities.

A report by strategic housing investment & regeneration team leader Jamie Little states: “While the SHIP prioritises development on brownfield sites to further support the council’s climate emergency objectives, developing homes at this location still provides environmental benefits.

“Living directly opposite the school will enable pupils to walk and cycle, the town centre is around 600m away with access to shops, employment and services, while Craignair Health Centre is located on the boundary of the development.

“Inclusion of this pipeline project will help the region to fully utilise the RPA allocations over the next five years.”

Frank Sweeney, group chief executive at Cunninghame, told Scottish Housing News: “The Association is undertaking site investigation work at the moment, to establish the suitability of the site for development purposes.

“Any new build proposals for the site will therefore be determined by the outcome of this process, so plans are at a very early stage.

“Should the viability of the site be determined, our proposals would be to deliver around 58 new affordable homes for rent.”