TENANTS of Irvine’s high flats will be able to have their say next month on proposals to demolish their homes.

Consultation will get under way next week on ambitious proposals for North Ayrshire’s tower blocks which could see the Fullarton high rises flattened as part of £22million plans to build new social housing.

The process of engaging with tenants of the five tower blocks in Irvine and two in Saltcoats is due to get under way on Tuesday, April 3.

North Ayrshire Council Housing staff are primed to speak to residents of all the properties – 369 flats in total across the two sites.

It is hoped that the majority of the one-to-one sessions will be completed within the first two weeks although the consultation will continue after that in an effort to engage with as many affected people as possible.

At the meetings, residents will get the chance to hear in detail the options for the tower blocks as well the potential process for re-housing people if and when work gets under way.

Council Leader Joe Cullinane said: “Our residents are at the heart of these proposals and we are very keen to find out their thoughts and answer any questions they may have.

“We have already made a commitment to build more than 1,000 new council houses across North Ayrshire over the next four years and, combined with the potential proposals for our high flats, this represents one of the most ambitious council house building programmes in Scotland.

“I believe this is a fantastic opportunity to change people’s lives for the better and really transform both the Fullarton and Saltcoats communities.”

North Ayrshire currently has seven high rise blocks – five in the Fullarton area of Irvine, and two in Saltcoats – and there are three options for the future of the tower blocks:

• Option 1 - Retain all seven towers blocks and launch an improvements programme, including installation of sprinklers, alongside regular maintenance at a total cost of £22.5m over 25 years.

• Option 2 - Demolish all seven blocks and replace with low-rise housing constructed on-site and elsewhere, at a net additional cost of £22.1m, to be completed by 2023.

• Option 3 - Demolish the five Irvine tower blocks only, with replacement low rise housing constructed on-site and elsewhere, and retain the Saltcoats tower blocks, at a net additional cost of £14.4m.

In the five Fullarton blocks, there are no owner occupiers, however, around one-third of the Saltcoats high flats properties are privately owned, including some with private tenants.

Discussions with these private owners and tenants – as well as council tenants – will form a major part in the engagement exercise.

Whatever option is chosen, the investment will be fully funded from council house rental income and will not impact on the council’s revenue or capital budgets.

A report on the outcome of the consultation is expected to be brought before Cabinet this summer, with the next steps to be considered at that stage.