North Ayrshire Council has been awarded nearly £500,000 to refurbish unused properties for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
The council has secured the £486,000 funding from the Scottish Government’s Ukraine Longer-Term Resettlement Fund to bring five blocks of three-storey flats back into use for three years.
The flats will be used on an interim basis by Ukrainian refugees. After three years, they will be reassessed as part of the council’s new build housing programme.
Council leader Marie Burns said: 'With funding now secured from the Scottish Government’s Ukraine Longer-Term Resettlement Fund, we are looking to begin improvement works within the next few weeks.
'While there is understandable uncertainty for anyone arriving here from Ukraine, it’s important that they feel secure and supported – having that secure tenancy will help.'
Minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine, Neil Gray, added: 'This week, I have written to local authorities and social landlord representatives across the country to encourage them to look at their current housing supply and identify unused accommodation so that we can increase the supply of available accommodation and provide people from Ukraine with safe and secure homes for their time here.'
