Council chiefs are set to demolish a Kilwinning facility which helped disabled people live independently and sell off the land for private housing.

Cabinet approved plans to demolish of the existing Hazeldene building this week (Tuesday, November 26) at a cost off £100,000.

Officers recommend that North Ayrshire Council seeks to then sell off the site, which offers support to people with disabilities across the spectrum, for offers of around £320,000 from private housing developers – with NAC hoping for an estimated net income of around £220,000.

As the Times previously reported, service users will soon move into the new Trindlemoss development at Irvine’s old Red Cross House, with this facility expected to be ready and operational from January next year.

The property is currently occupied by Health and Social Care Partnership Community Based Services which provides day care for adults with a focus on development of independent living and employability skills, with meeting papers stating it would cost more than £550,000 to bring the property up to a standard.

Cabinet papers state: “In consultation with Housing, Property Management and Investment have assessed the site to establish any requirement for social housing and concluded the existing demand for social housing in Kilwinning is being met by the sites already committed and programmed in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP).

“The Local Housing Strategy was utilised to inform this assessment whilst also taking into consideration the residential character of the surrounding area. It is anticipated the site will be developed to deliver private housing.”