Social care housing completed at Barnweil Drive, Hurlford

Four properties on Barnweil Drive, Hurlford have been completely renovated by Housing Services on behalf of the East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership (EAHSCP).

In April 2025, Cabinet agreed to investment of £152,600 from the Council’s Innovation Fund to renovate four properties that will provide adult supported accommodation.

Barnweil Drive is one of nine housing hubs across East Ayrshire, which are based on a shared support and responder model. This means that individuals have their own tenancies but supports are shared, for example, services overnight. The bedsits are located close to the Andrew Nisbet Place responder hub, which will provide social care support to the tenants.

Councillor Jim McMahon, Spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities was joined at Barnweil Drive by Leader of the Council, Councillor Douglas Reid, Councillor Clare Maitland, Spokesperson for Health and Social Care and local members Councillors Graham Barton, Graham Boyd and Neal Ingram.

Councillor McMahon said: “The decision taken by Cabinet has ensured that the Council continues to invest in and develop support accommodation that will meet current and emerging need. The most recent Housing Need and Demand Assessment shows that this model of supported accommodation is the most cost-effective way to meet the needs of individuals with high levels of complexity rather than providing traditional 24-hour support.

“This investment was right for the Council in terms of spend to save and regenerating properties that had become a bit of an eyesore, but it is also right for the individuals who will benefit from these tenancies. Evidence shows that individuals living in this model are able to make natural relationships that they might otherwise struggle to make and that individuals have flourished and achieved personal goals that their guardians had not thought possible.

“Our aim was to get the bedsits completely renovated and tenants settled in their new homes within 12 months, and we are well on our way to achieving that goal. Well done to the whole team for ensuring the project stayed on time and on budget.”