Investment in Housing improvements agreed at meeting of Cabinet
At the recent meeting of Cabinet, it was agreed that over £109m would be invested in improving Council homes across East Ayrshire.
A five year rolling Housing Investment Programme (HIP) is presented to Cabinet annually, which clearly sets out our priorities and areas of investment. Energy efficiency will be at the heart of improvement works being delivered by the Housing Asset Services team.
The next phase of the external envelope enhancement programme will see almost £40m being invested with 400 homes a year benefitting from insulation works, external rendering and re-roofing, transforming homes and communities. Just under £6m will be invested in new energy efficient windows and doors for 200 homes and £13.5m will be invested in new Grade A energy efficient heating systems for 800 homes each year of the programme. Over £40m will be invested in the installation of new kitchens and bathrooms, and electrical upgrades, which equates to 680 homes a year, for each year of the programme. £1.75m will also be invested in a planned programme of cleaning and minor repair works to high-level gutters, rooflines and rainwater goods, for example downpipes and hoppers, helping to protect homes from possible water ingress.
Councillor Jim McMahon, Cabinet Spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities said: “The Housing Investment Programme for 2024-2029 sets out significant investment in our existing housing stock. It will ensure that our homes continue to perform well and meet the needs of our tenants.
“Over the next five years, we will be investing millions in making our homes more energy efficient. Reducing energy usage for our tenants is a real priority and this work will also help us meet our climate change targets.
“The Housing Asset Services team is also working closely with Economic Growth and the Ayrshire Growth Deal team on exciting opportunities linked to the Community Renewable Energy Project (CoRE). The team will be able to evaluate and monitor four different approaches to delivering low-carbon and energy-efficient homes, which will help to inform future investment in the wider housing stock.
“In the current economic climate, it is essential that we have the right housing stock in the right communities and that our resources are carefully targeted. To achieve this, we work in partnership with the East Ayrshire Federation of Tenants and Residents, a dedicated group that works very hard representing the people of East Ayrshire and with local community groups. We regularly consult with our tenants and this ensures that local voices are at the centre of every conversation and shape the development of our annual improvement programme.”