North Ayrshire’s vacant sites are to benefit from a council investment of £2 million – with nearly half of the funding going to Irvine.

The funding – secured from the Scottish Government’s Vacant Derelict Land Fund (VDLF) – will be used to revitalise areas to make them businessready, commercially viable or ready for innovative community use.

The works include: - Annickbank, Irvine (£80,000) – Development plans for Phase 3 of office pavilions.

- I3, Irvine (£750,000) – Access improvements and development work to provide infrastructure to meet occupier demand

- Ardrossan North Shore (£1m) – contribution towards land remediation, potential site purchase and path completion.

- Moorpark Road , Stevenston (£60,000) – Greening of area.

- Lochshore (£250,000) – Preliminary land remediation activities and improve access to site.

The (VDLF) aims to tackle the presence of long-term vacant and derelict land in Scotland and in doing so stimulate economic growth/job creation, an improved environment and quality of life.

Councillor Alex Gallagher, Cabinet Member for Economy, said: “This funding is extremely welcome and will help us carry out some essential works on this land that will ensure that they are in a condition to be developed for commercial or community use.”