PLANS to build more than 200 council homes on the site of former hospital buildings in Irvine have progressed to the next stage.

North Ayrshire Council has confirmed when the public will be consulted on its housing plans at the site of the old Ayrshire Central Hospital.

In what will be one of its largest developments in decades, the council plans to build 202 properties on the site of the old maternity unit.

The site is expected to be supported by over £20m of Scottish Government funding.

These homes will be "new modern and energy-efficient" with a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroomed properties to be developed. They will include a mix of general needs properties along with homes for wheelchair users and amenity bungalows to meet a wide range of residents’ needs.

These will include a mix of general needs properties along with homes for wheelchair users and amenity bungalows to meet a wide range of residents’ needs.

Plans are available to view and comment on online here until Friday, June 16.

Alternatively, the council is also holding a local, in-person event on Tuesday, June 6, from 4pm-6pm at Castlepark Community Centre.

The plans have been a long time in the making, with the council initially purchasing the derelict buildings from the NHS as surplus land in March 2021.

The former maternity buildings, on Kilwinning Road, have been closed for normal business for more than a decade.

The demolition of the hospital buildings was finally given the green light in December - to make way fgor the housing site.

However, the Scottish Civic Trust, which opposed the demolition bid, insisted a structural report on the buildings was "to say the least, superficial".

The demolition plans were announced last summer - and within weeks fire crews were called to put out a blaze in one of the derelict buildings.

It was April this year that demolition workers began tearing the building down - in line with the anticipated construction timeline.

This would see the development fully completed by the spring of 2026.

Commenting as the development moves onto its latest stage, Councillor Tony Gurney, cabinet member for place, said he hopes engagement is high.

He commented: “The consultation process is always vital but especially in major-scale developments like this. We would urge people to please have a look at the revised plans and provide any feedback they may have.

“We have committed to building 1,625 new homes across North Ayrshire by 2028, which is one of the biggest and most ambitious house building programmes in the country.

“Ayrshire Central is a well-known location and we are excited about the plans which will breathe life into this part of Irvine.”