Construction work has now formally commenced at the site of the former St Mary’s Primary School site in Largs, following some early preparatory works.

A total of 26 new homes will be built on the site, which will be a natural extension to the neighbouring 123-unit Flatt Road development which was completed in 2021.

The development at Linn Avenue will be the latest addition to the council’s house-building programme which is delivering more than 1,600 new homes right across North Ayrshire.

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for green environment and economy at North Ayrshire Council, said: “We have one of the most ambitious housebuilding programmes in Scotland and the development at Largs will be yet another exciting addition to that programme.

“The 26 new homes on the site of the former St Mary’s Primary School will complete the regeneration of the former Largs school sites, creating a modern, cohesive and inclusive space for our residents.”

The £6 million project will be supported by £4m Scottish Government grant funding.

The new homes, which will be available for affordable rent from the council, will provide a mix of two and three-bedroom amenity and general needs homes. The provision of affordable, accessible and sustainable homes supports the Council Plan priorities to improve wellbeing and address climate change.

Plans will also be developed to consider options for the open spaces adjacent to the homes. It is expected that community groups and local school pupils will help play a key role in how these spaces can best be used.

The main construction contractor is Ashleigh (Scotland) Limited and the construction work is expected to be completed by spring 2025.

The St Mary’s Primary School site, on Linn Avenue, was initially earmarked for an innovative housing programme, called Home Ownership Made Easy or HOME, which would have allowed tenants to own a partial stake in their home. However, the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by the worldwide rise in construction costs and inflation, meant that the HOME scheme was no longer financially viable, requiring an alternative future to be found for the site.

Following extensive assessment of the council’s proposal, the Scottish Government confirmed its willingness to fund the project through its Affordable Housing Supply Programme, recognising the shovel-ready status of the project and its contribution to increasing local and national social housing supply.