The ‘neighbourhood’ in North Ayrshire which will benefit from a £20 million cash injection thanks to a programme that seeks to improve communities across the country has been confirmed.

The UK government announced in September there would be up to £5bn of investment for 339 “overlooked” communities across the UK to spend on high streets, parks and public spaces.

The Scottish neighbourhoods, spread across 12 council areas, will each get up to £20m to precisely target areas which can benefit most from funding being made available for a wide range of regeneration projects.

At a recent meeting of North Ayrshire’s Cabinet meeting, it was confirmed that the area to be proposed to the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government for consideration and approval would be within the Three Towns comprising of the Stevenston Hayocks, Stevenston Ardeer (partial), Stevenston North West, Saltcoats Central and Ardrossan Central Intermediate Zones.

That proposal has now been confirmed by the UK Government.

The Council’s submission was informed by data analysis – including Scottish Community Needs Index (SCNI) and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) – to determine the neighbourhoods most in need to of the financial support.

Now that the Neighbourhood has been confirmed, a Neighbourhood Board will require to be formed lead the creation of a local Regeneration Plan, working with the Council to meet the programme goals. The programme proposes that the Neighbourhood Board should include residents, businesses, community groups, faith leaders, the local MP, and others with strong ties to the area.

The Pride in Place programme targets areas which can benefit most from funding being made available for a wide range of regeneration projects. Across the UK 169 of the most-in-need communities will benefit. This includes revitalising high streets and town centres, preserving local heritage, providing housing, creating jobs, boosting productivity and skills, improving health and well-being, creating new transport links, providing education and opportunity and improving safety and security.

“We are delighted to have received confirmation of the Three Towns Neighbourhood under the Pride In Place programme. We look forward to working with our communities and partners to co-create the Pride In Place Plan to identify how we can utilise these additional resources. North Ayrshire has a great track record of working in partnership with communities and organisations and we look forward to building on these relationships so we can make significant change that will benefit residents, businesses and the whole community. We are ambitious for the Three Towns and keen to deliver lasting change beyond this investment, building on the momentum of recent investments. We will work in partnership with the new Neighbourhood Board to focus the funding on interventions which will deliver for our communities,” said Councillor Marie Burns, Leader of North Ayrshire Council