The new development will deliver seven modern, energy-efficient new homes at Laburnum Avenue in Beith and seven at Newhouse Drive in Kilbirnie, including a mixture of two-bedroom amenity bungalows and two-bedroom general needs homes.

To mark the official commencement of works on site, an official groundbreaking was held on Tuesday, 27 February, in Newhouse Drive, Kilbirnie, with North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson performing the ceremony.

St Bridget’s Primary School is situated adjacent to the first site on Newhouse Drive, Kilbirnie where three amenity bungalows will be constructed. During the ceremony, pupils Rhys, Amelia and Hayley read out a poem about what home means to them, after winning a writing competition launched by Connect Modular as part of the contractor’s commitment to community engagement.

This is the third affordable housing project Connect Modular has delivered for North Ayrshire Council in recent years, and the modular construction specialist is pleased to be partnering with the local authority once again on this important regeneration project.

Acting CEO, Richard Reid, said: “It is fantastic to be working with North Ayrshire Council again, this time delivering much needed affordable housing on recently cleared sites in Beith and Kilbirnie. We are delighted at how North Ayrshire Council’s housing team has enthusiastically embraced modular construction. Our innovative approach provides the optimum solution to turnaround derelict infill sites swiftly and with minimal disruption to surrounding neighbours.”

The previous flatted blocks were demolished after being identified for improvement as part of North Ayrshire Council’s Estate-Based Regeneration Programme.

Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for Green Environment and Economy, said this was another step towards delivering on the council’s commitment to build more than 1,600 new homes for affordable rent across North Ayrshire.

He added: “We are delighted to see work start on these new homes in Kilbirnie and Beith. These modern, energy-conscious properties will help regenerate the local areas, giving the residents homes to be proud of.”

The modular construction method lends itself particularly well to projects of this nature, since activity on site is greatly reduced. With 90% of works completed off-site, there is minimal disruption to surrounding residents and road networks.

Houses are delivered to site from Connect Modular’s manufacturing facility in Cumnock, complete with kitchens, bathrooms, internal plumbing and electrics, therefore overcoming the otherwise challenging logistics of small gap sites. This volumetric modular solution also offers programme certainty and delivers high quality homes in a way that minimises waste.