Labour-run North Ayrshire Council is set to deliver a programme of over 1,700 new social houses over the next five years.

If replicated across the country, the plan could exceed existing housing targets and tackle the housing crisis by leading to the construction of over 60,000 new homes.

Scottish Labour Communities spokesperson Pauline McNeill MSP joined North Ayrshire Council Leader Joe Cullinane on site visits last week in Dickson Drive to see the housebuilding programme in action.

The ambitious plans in the council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) will see over 1,700 social houses – almost 1,400 of which will be council – built by 2024. The council have invested £177 million to the fund, and the Scottish Government £91 million.

The MSP said: “North Ayrshire Council are leading the way on building the homes we need for the future.

“Building hundreds of new affordable social homes is exactly the type of bold and ambitious action needed to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis. Increasing the availability of social housing will be a top priority for Labour in government.

“North Ayrshire are showing that we could solve the housing crisis if the SNP Government matched their ambition across the country.”

Councillor Joe Cullinane, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “This is the most ambitious council housebuilding programme across all of Scotland.

“We will have 500 new and energy efficient council houses under construction or completed in 2019-20. These are sustainable, high quality homes that will provide accommodation in areas where people need housing – making North Ayrshire fit for the future.”

Our picture shows Councillor Jim Montgomerie, with Pauline McNeil MSP and Councillor Cullinane at the council house development at Dickson Drive.