North Ayrshire Council's Cabinet has approved ambitious plans to create a new Learning Disability Day Centre at the site of the former Red Cross House.

The £6.6 million development – in partnership with NHS Ayrshire and Arran – will see a range of services provided at the Tarryholme Drive base.

The ‘Tarryholme Drive Project’ will create 20 homes for people with Learning Disabilities who require a 24-hour support service.

It will also provide six housing units for people with Learning Disabilities requiring resettlement in the community and another nine for those who need mental health rehabilitation support.

A day service will also help around 90 service users who have a range of needs.

This will see provision transferred from Fergushill, Kilwinning, to the Tarryholme Drive site.

North Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet approved the proposals at their meeting on Tuesday, 28 February.

The elected members heard that the redevelopment of the Red Cross House site has been undertaken as more and more evidence is gathered showing that bespoke accommodation for people – both adults and children – with disabilities has a profound and positive impact.

The development of accommodation available at Tarryholme Drive will help both the council and NHS meet the special requirements of tenants and, in the longer term, make savings with services being delivered in-house.

The Council completed the purchase of the Tarryholme Drive site in October and have consulted extensively with partners and service users to find the best and most appropriate use for the base.

Councillor Peter McNamara, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care Partnership, added: “We are very excited about what will be a brilliant, bespoke facility for people with a range of needs.

“We have worked hard with our partners at NHS Ayrshire and Arran to come up with a proposal that addresses some of the challenges we have in the region.

“It will provide us with services right on our doorstep and ensure that people don’t have to travel to get vital and sometimes lifeline services. It will also be a lovely, welcoming environment for all our service users.

“We are giving people a chance to realise their potential to live as independently as possible, be safe and be included.”