THE council is set to propose primary school catchment area changes to accommodate the new 'Mayfields' housing development.

North Ayrshire Council is seeking to accommodate an expected increase in pupil numbers as a result of the new housing development at Mayfield Farm, behind Tesco on the High Road.

Persimmon Homes has planning permission to build 275 units at Mayfield Farm over three phases. An additional 95 units are planned to follow in phase four, with the sites set to be completed by 2033/34.

Work has now commenced on the first 18 units, which includes a number of flats, and this is due to be completed and sold by March 2023.

At a meeting of the local authority's cabinet this Tuesday, councillors are expected to agree to plans to rezone all of the new housing development to Mayfield Primary School (non-denominational) and St Anthony’s Primary School (denominational).

This will be taken to statutory public consultation before a final decision is taken.

The present catchment boundary line for Mayfield Primary School runs right through the new housing development.

The other schools directly affected by this proposal are Glencairn and St John’s primary schools.

After looking at various options, it was viewed that zoning the new homes to Mayfield and St Anthony’s Primary Schools option made geographical sense.

Current pupil roll projections also indicated that the schools can accommodate the anticipated change to pupil numbers.

Councillor Shaun Macaulay, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “We feel these are very important changes that will be important to the school communities.

“We have engaged extensively with relevant stakeholders - including teachers, parents and local residents – and feel the proposals put forward are the most feasible and will allow us to maintain pupil levels within all the establishments.

“There will be further engagement via the statutory consultation which we would urge people to take part in.”