PLANS for almost 50 new council houses on the site of a former additional needs school in Saltcoats have moved a step forward.

Blueprints were initially revealed at the beginning of 2022 for the development proposal in Primrose Place, where the old James Reid School building was located.

North Ayrshire Council (NAC) is aiming to create 47 houses on the land next to Mayfield Primary School in a mix of general needs homes, wheelchair-liveable properties and amenity bungalows.

The development, which is expected to cost more than £9 million, will include 26 two-bedroom general needs homes plus 11 two-bedroom amenity houses.

There will also be 10 wheelchair-accessible homes in a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties.

The council has now submitted a certificate of lawfulness application for the proposals which, if granted, would mean that a full application for planning permission would not be required.

James Reid School closed in 2021 as it was amalgamated into the new Lockhart Campus in Stevenston.

In a consultation on the draft plans held last year, NAC said they anticipated that demolition of the former school building would be complete by spring/summer 2022.

The original plans were for 46 units - one fewer than the total now proposed - and the council said that works were hoped to be finished by this winter.

A consultation document said: "The council does not require full planning consent for this development as it falls within our permitted development rights.

"Permitted development enables local authorities to carry out works, within their district, for the erection of dwellings so long as the development conforms with the Local Development Plan.

"The council will obtain a ‘Certificate of Lawfulness’ from the council’s planning service to certify that the site has been considered against the full terms of the adopted Local Development Plan."