RUMOURS that North Ayrshire Council were planning to move the the hostel currently in Saltcoats town centre to an empty site in Stevenston have been dismissed as ‘unfounded speculation’.

And in answering the claims, they have revealed that there are plans to acquire vacant land sites in Stevenston as part of wider regeneration.

Claims started to circulate on social media last week that the Green Street hostel, which is set to close, would be moving to the vacant Afton Court site .

But these rumours have been shot down and North Ayrshire Council is proposing to build six amenity houses at the land in Stevenston. The plans remain at an early stage and will form part of a wider regeneration proposal for the town.

Council housing officers hope to supplement the Afton Court plans by getting the green light to develop on other vacant ground in the area. By packaging the developments together, there is an opportunity to make a significant improvement to the streetscape in the local area.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Place, said: “There has been a lot of unfounded speculation about the Afton Court site so it is important to give residents an early heads-up.

“I’m excited about our plans to develop new amenity housing at this location.

“We are hopeful that we can acquire other vacant land in and around Stevenston town centre to provide further regeneration benefits.”

Council officers are working up the design plans for the Afton Court site, and timescales for redevelopment of the site will be confirmed soon.

Afton Court used to be home to sheltered housing units. Residents were moved to the new £5.3 million Glencairn House development at Bill Smith Court, Stevenston.

Featuring 28 high-quality and accessible sheltered homes, the development illustrates North Ayrshire Council’s commitment to provide affordable accommodation that meets tenants’ needs now and in the future.