Plans to build two new housing developments in New Cumnock have been dealt a blow following a consultation on rent increases.

The proposals to build new properties at Mason Avenue and Castle Street were rejected after a consultation with tenants over planned rent increases.

It comes just months after a £28 million housing investment plan was approved by members of East Ayrshire Council (EAC).

The New Cumnock proposals, approved by EAC’s cabinet in 2022, were described in November as a “project [that] would really improve the village and provide much needed homes for local people”.

But that same November meeting approved a consultation with tenants on rent increases – with the consultation stating that a lower rent increase would mean the New Cumnock proposals being scrapped.

A special meeting of the full East Ayrshire Council last week was told that following an “extensive consultation”, tenants across the council area had given their backing to that smaller rent increase – one of 6.5 per cent, equivalent to £5.18 a week.

Cumnock Chronicle: Homes built elsewhere in East Ayrshire.Homes built elsewhere in East Ayrshire. (Image: East Ayrshire Council)

But 75.9 per cent of the tenants who took part in the consultation backed the first option.

According to a report prepared for last week’s meeting, the consultation got a return rate of 9.41 per cent from the authority’s 11,582 tenants – a total of 1,089 responses.

Cumnock and New Cumnock SNP councillor Jim McMahon, the local authority’s depute leader and its spokesperson for housing, transport and communities, said: “The views of our tenants matter and shape the decisions that are taken by the council and by housing services.

“It is clear that our tenants supported proposal one and also that their priority is improving existing housing stock, with 71.7 per cent of tenants stating this was their top priority.

“Over the next year, 400 homes will benefit from external envelope enhancements, which means everything is addressed at the same time, from rendering to guttering to insulation, all with the aim of making our homes warmer and more energy efficient.

“Eight hundred homes will also receive new heating systems, 200 will get new windows and 680 will receive upgrades to kitchens, bathrooms and rewiring.

“I believe very strongly in our house building programme and the importance of ensuring that all of our communities have access to homes that are appropriate for their needs.

“I therefore made an additional proposal, which received the support of all elected members, that a housing needs survey be carried out in New Cumnock and that a rural housing action plan, for the whole of East Ayrshire, be developed by Housing Services by 2025.

“This will allow us to take further, informed decisions at cabinet next year.”

Cumnock Chronicle: Agreement was reached that housing rent would increase by 6.5%, which is £5.18 a week over 52 weeks.Agreement was reached that housing rent would increase by 6.5%, which is £5.18 a week over 52 weeks. (Image: East Ayrshire Council)

Councillor Neill Watts (Conservative, Cumnock and New Cumnock), said: “If you look to rent a property in the south of East Ayrshire, across wards 7, 8 and 9 [Ballochmyle, Cumnock and New Cumnock, and Doon Valley], an internet search will find there are only about 12 private rentals available at the moment.

"Indeed in New Cumnock there are only four private rentals currently available – two three-bed flats and two two-bed flats.

“You would struggle to get a council property and you would struggle to get a housing association property.

“If you wanted to purchase your first home, or even move, and your budget was below £60,000, you would struggle to find something suitable in the south of our area.

“The capacity is just not there at the moment for affordable homes. We can’t afford to put potential new homes on back burners for years and years to come. That will not help our communities.”

Councillor John McGhee (Labour, Annick), pointing to the decision to approve the New Cumnock project, said: “If we made a decision in cabinet in 2022, why did we go out to consultation on something that wouldn’t meet the wishes of cabinet?”

Blair Millar, the council’s head of housing and communities, replied: “That would have been superseded by the paper that followed the next year in terms of removing the New Cumnock proposal.

“Within the paper in November I set out huge challenges aligned to the housing revenue account. The budget pressure within the housing revenue account for 2024-25 was £3.247 million.

“Really tough decisions had to be taken around what was the best professional recommendation, and that’s what I brought forward in November.”