Council realigns capital investment plans
Over the past 15 years East Ayrshire Council has successfully delivered a £1 billion capital investment programme with a focus on education, jobs, housing, roads and regeneration.
And the Council continues to be ambitious in building a modern fit for purpose infrastructure in East Ayrshire with the current Capital Programme committing to invest £250m. However, recent pressures arising from cost of living, inflation, borrowing costs and market pressures have created an extremely challenging environment for capital investment, necessitating a full review of the programme to ensure that proposals remain both realistic and affordable over the next five years.
To achieve this, £18.9m of funding has been reprofiled within current project proposals. Projects were reviewed in relation to the existing delivery plan and in so doing, considered the progress and development stage of every project, as well as recognising the need for regular or ongoing asset maintenance, replacement and upgrades.
The revised Capital Programme for the coming year continues to focus on key strategic themes but also reflects greater pressures around additional support needs and demographic change, construction market pressures, regeneration and maximising external funding. External funding plays a significant role in making many of these projects a reality and the Council will continue to identify new funding opportunities and sources to support the revised programme.
In 2026/27 the Council anticipates spending over £100m on construction costs across a range of large-scale projects including:
- an extension at Stewarton Academy
- AGD projects at Moorfield and Cumnock
- the Palace Theatre and Concert Hall upgrade
- active travel connections across Kilmarnock linking the Foregate and the north/ south infinity loop routes
- implementing changes to waste collection arrangements
- ongoing investment in roads, fleet, ICT, housing grants and property refurbishment
- the first phase of works at Doon Valley Community Campus
- addressing Additional Support Needs and growth across the education estate
- housing upgrades across the area and further new builds in Cumnock
Following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 25 February, elected members confirmed a number of adjustments ensure progress continues:
- additional £0.814m to complete the St Sophia's Primary School project
- additional £0.250m for completion of the new dining facilities at Kilmaurs Primary School
- additional £0.786m to facilitate rollout of free school meals to P6 and P7
- additional £9m for Cultural Kilmarnock project
- additional £0.900m for Merlin Park (Auchinleck) sports facilities
- £0.500m for expansion of Cumnock Cemetery
- £0.500m for repairs to Gauchalland salt dome (Galston)
- Reprofiling of £0.400m for immediate repairs to the Galleon ice rink
Elected members recognise there is more work to be done, and officers will report back on specific areas including the Learning Estate Management Plan, Ayrshire Growth Deal, Roads Asset Management Plan and Active Travel initiatives as well as a feasibility on the Bellfield Roundabout improvements.
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said:
“Effective asset management sits at the heart of our capital programme, helping to inform and guide future investment decisions. The programme has faced considerable external challenges in recent years, which have required tighter financial controls, whilst the overall budget remains the same. For these reasons we welcome the opportunity to review progress, which will enable some of our more advanced projects to reach a conclusion, which is great news for our communities.
“This revised Programme ensures that we can continue to deliver major investment in our communities within a very challenging financial backdrop.”