A survey is due to take place in New Cumnock next month to find out the housing needs of local residents.
Research Resource, on behalf of East Ayrshire Council (EAC), has been tasked with gathering the views of a wide range of people and will be carrying out interviews with local residents.
Two housing developments that had recently been planned for New Cumnock were dealt a blow earlier this year, 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 across the local authority over planned rent rises.
It came just months after a £28million housing investment plan was approved by members of East Ayrshire Council.
A major preliminary planning application was also submitted to EAC earlier this year for the centre of New Cumnock, which could see 11 terraced homes and 12 apartments.
READ MORE: Major development earmarked for vacant New Cumnock land
For this new survey on housing needs, properties will be selected at random and, if a resident is selected, an interviewer will call at their home to conduct a short interview that will take around 30 minutes.
The interviewer will have an identity card with their name and photo, which they will show to the resident.
Any resident selected should check this identity card before beginning the interview. Residents can of course opt out of the research or arrange a more convenient time for the interview to take place.
In addition, the team from Research Resource are holding a drop-in event at New Cumnock town hall between 10am and 2pm on Tuesday, August 6, where residents can complete the survey with an interviewer.
Cumnock and New Cumnock councillor Jim McMahon, who also acts as spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Communities said: “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 proposed at Full Council that a housing need and demand survey be carried out in New Cumnock, which was supported by all elected members.
“I am really pleased that this survey is getting underway soon.
"The results will help to inform decisions that will be taken at Cabinet later this year on the house building programme so I ask that the community of New Cumnock take a few minutes of their time to give us their views.
"The survey is completely anonymous and no individual feedback will be provided to the council.”
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