THE deadline to register interest in a new fund which will help regenerate derelict areas and buildings across North Ayrshire has been extended.

The Repurposing Property Grant Fund was created to help support landowners and community groups to bring back vacant land and properties to use.

Uptake in the scheme has been encouraging and organisers have extended the deadline for expressions of interest to support further involvement.

Any landowner or group wishing to express their interest should e-mail regeneration@north-ayrshire.gov.uk by 12 noon on November 19.

The Fund is another strand of the ambitious Community Wealth Building Strategy and Regeneration Delivery Plan – where the council work more closely than ever with community groups to make the most of local assets – and long-term plans to regenerate the area.

North Ayrshire has around 250 sites and buildings that are characterised as being derelict and vacant.

The first phase of the Fund is worth £200,000.

This will allow landowners or community groups to carry out feasibility studies to identify potential options for the sites and their viability.

Councillor Joe Cullinane, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “This is a really exciting development as this fund can have a really positive impact on communities across North Ayrshire.

“There is no doubt that some of these areas have been a blight on communities for a number of years now and we feel that this this a positive step in doing something about it.”

A maximum of £10,000 is available for sites under one hectare and a maximum of £25,000 for larger sites.