11. DirApp - Pride in Place Programme - FINAL - POST PRE AGENDA - 26-11-25
North Ayrshire Council · 2 December 2025
Back to Cabinet — 2 December 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 2 December 2025 Cabinet Title: Pride in Place Programme Purpose: To update Cabinet on the Pride in Place Programme funding awards in North Ayrshire and to seek approval to develop both programmes in line with UK Government requirements. Recommendation: That Cabinet: a) Notes and approves the acceptance of the £20m Pride in Place Programme funding allocation. b) Notes the request for and approves the submission of the proposed ‘Neighbourhood’ and associated evidence to UK Government to support selection. c) Notes and approves the acceptance of the £1.5m Pride in Place Impact Fund allocation d) Agrees the proposed approach to the allocation of the Pride in Place Impact Fund allocation. e) Agrees to receive a further report in due course detailing proposed expenditure arrangements for the Pride in Place Impact Fund allocation informed by the confirmation of the successful Pride in Place Programme ‘Neighbourhood’. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 In September 2023, the UK Government announced that 55 towns across the UK would benefit from up to £20 million of investment through endowment style funding over a 10-year period. Irvine was identified as one of the original seven towns in Scotland to benefit from this funding. 1.2 The programme was renamed and expanded as the ‘Pride in Place Programme’ in September 2025, to a further 169 of the most-in-need neighbourhoods across the United Kingdom, including a further 14 in Scotland. The funding will be focused on those areas which are “doubly disadvantaged” by high levels of deprivation and weak social infrastructure, a local programme, focused on neighbourhoods with populations between 5,000 and 15,000. 1.3 Further to the original Irvine award, North Ayrshire has now received an additional £20m allocation through the new Pride in Place Programme (PiPP). Specific neighbourhoods in Scotland however have not yet been announced, with a UK Government decision expected by the end of 2025.
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1.4 Alongside PiPP is the new Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF) which will see £1.5m of capital funding over two years being invested across North Ayrshire, alongside 94 other places across the UK. The fund aims to support the development of shared community spaces, revitalise local high streets and improve public spaces. The programme will be locally led and will support improvements that reflect the pride and potential of each place. 2. Background Pride In Place Programme 2.1 The UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme (PiPP) was published on 25 September 2025, building upon the previous ‘Plan for Neighbourhoods’ programme currently being delivered in Irvine and selected areas across the UK. PiPP is a UK-wide programme providing a 10-year investment to disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This new phase of PiPP builds on the existing programme which is providing 75 towns across the UK with up to £20 million each, totalling £1.5 billion over 10 years. The programme aims to build strong, resilient and integrated communities, with this phase providing additional 169 neighbourhoods across Great Britain with £20 million over 10 years. 2.2 Specific neighbourhoods in Scotland have yet to be defined. UK Government has provided a ranked list of intermediate zones (IZ) using data from the Scottish Community Needs Index (SCNI) and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), in order of most in need areas in North Ayrshire. The SCNI rank and the SIMD ranks have been combined using a 75:25 weighted average to form a combined index for each 2011 IZ. A summary of this UK Government assessment is provided at Appendix One. 2.3 Local Authorities have been asked to complete and submit questionnaires to the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 14 November 2025, to inform the identification of the successful neighbourhood. The selection criteria identified are that the proposed neighbourhood should: • Be a contiguous area. • Not be located in a UK Parliamentary Constituency with a Phase 1 Neighbourhood. • Contain no less than 5,000 people, unless there is strong qualitative or quantitative data for a lower population. • Contain no more than 15,000 people, unless there is strong qualitative or quantitative data for a higher population. • Contain one or more Intermediate Zones in the top 20% of need using the methodology outlined at Section 2.2, unless there is strong qualitative or quantitative data for consideration of IZ in the up to 33% of need. • Include other lower need IZ to connect high need IZ where necessary. 2.4 The questionnaire, map of intermediate zones and letter from the Secretary of State for Scotland were also issued to the MPs and the Scottish Community Alliance to seek their input. This information has also been shared by the Scottish Community Alliance with local Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) members. DTAS has encouraged its members to submit a completed questionnaire or engage with Elected Members. Therefore, local submissions may have been made to UK Government directly. Furthermore, the methodology for the final assessment has not been confirmed. 2.5 The questionnaire comprises a series of questions on the local context to illustrate where funding could have most impact and the proposed boundary based on the IZ
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assessment, to inform the UK Government’s selection. The submission proposed for North Ayrshire, informed by the data shared and wider assessment aims to address the requirements of the programme and focus on the greatest areas of need. It was agreed with UK Government that these would be submitted as “subject to Cabinet approval” by the 14 November deadline. 2.6 Informed by an analysis of the UK Government assessment, local socio-economic data and other relevant qualitative information, the proposed contiguous area is within the Three Towns comprised of the Stevenston Hayocks, Stevenston Ardeer (partial), Stevenston North West, Saltcoats Central and Ardrossan Central IZ. This is illustrated at Appendix Two. This proposal was informed by cross Service engagement and initial engagement with the MP for North Ayrshire & Arran. This aligns with the priority areas identified through the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland and Fairer Futures Partnership. The proposal: • Includes five high need IZ, as defined by the UK Government’s methodology and a total population of 14,641. • Is informed by 57.7% of the population within the Three Towns living within the most deprived SIMD quintile. • Is informed by the significant level of socio-economic challenges experienced within the five IZ including high unemployment rates, low performance on multiple health indicators and percentage of children living in poverty and with developmental concerns at 27 to 30 months assessment. • Notes the alignment of the Three Towns Locality Priorities to the Fund. 2.7 The PiPP follows the previous Plan for Neighbourhoods programme with around 37% of the funding to be revenue supporting the delivery and management of the projects. The new funding can only be directed at areas which were not supported in Phase 1. It will also follow the same fund objectives as Plan for Neighbourhoods to: • Build stronger communities – All places should have strong relationships and a collective sense of belonging to their community. This helps bring people together to build community cohesion and resilience, helping people to feel proud of their area and safe in their neighbourhood. • Create thriving places – Every part of the UK deserves to have vibrant neighbourhoods and communities with busy high streets, a good range of local amenities and high-quality physical infrastructure. • Empower people to take back control – Talent is spread equally but opportunity is not. Everybody should be empowered and in control of their lives and have a say over the future of their community. 2.8 An indicative timeline for the development of the Phase 2 PiPP Neighbourhood is summarised as follows: • By 14 November 2025 local authorities to submit questionnaire returns to UK Government for decision on neighbourhood areas. • MHCLG decision and announcement of new neighbourhood by end of 2025 • Spring 2026: MHCLG issues capacity and capital funding payment to all places.17 July 2026: Neighbourhood Boards confirm finalised membership and any proposals to alter the ‘default’ area boundary to MHCLG. • Winter 2026: Neighbourhood Boards to submit Regeneration Plan to MHCLG for assessment and approval.
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• Spring 2027: MHCLG approve Regeneration Plans and release first substantive delivery funding payment. 2.9 A Neighbourhood Board is required to lead the creation of a local Regeneration Plan, working with the Council to meet the programme goals. The Neighbourhood Board should include residents, businesses, community groups, faith leaders, the local MP, and others with strong ties to the area. Boards will set a long-term vision and plan, exploring funding from public, private, and charitable sources. Each Board will have an independent chair, appointed by the Council after consulting the MP, to lead and represent the community. Boards must include the local MP and at least one ward councillor. 2.10 The Neighbourhood Board will decide where interventions happen and how funding is used. In some cases, projects may extend beyond the programme’s boundary if they clearly benefit local residents. Key considerations include that interventions: • Align with the programme’s aims; • Have Board agreement and a clear reason; • Benefit the original neighbourhood; and • Involve a key asset used by local residents. For example, improving a nearby high street or green space outside the boundary is allowed if it reflects community priorities. Further guidance and confirmation of the neighbourhood is anticipated from the UK Government by the end of the year. Pride In Place Impact Fund 2.11 The Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF) was also announced on 25 September 2025, with a prospectus published outlining the methodology, allocation and delivery mechanism for the funding. North Ayrshire Council was directly awarded £1.5m of capital funding to deliver on the PiPIF priorities. Funding will be released equally across two financial years, with £0.75m to be received in 2025/26, and a further £0.75m in 2026/27. Given the timing of the funds being released, UK Government has confirmed that funds to be received in 2025/26 can be carried forward. Full financial commitments are required by the end of March 2027 with delivery to follow shortly thereafter if required. 2.12 The PiPIF aims to support three core objectives: • Community Spaces: investing in community facilities gives local people greater control over the spaces that matter to them. Refurbishing or taking ownership of underused but valued buildings. • Public Spaces: enhancing public spaces e.g. playparks, streetscape, signage, public art – encouraging people to spend time outdoors, build relationships and take part in local activities. • High Street and Town Centre Revitalisation: making town and city centres more attractive and welcoming, attracting people and supporting local businesses and economies. 2.13 Local Authorities are the accountable body for the funding and are required to work closely with local stakeholders to identify and invest in interventions which meet local need. Funding is to be managed within existing governance frameworks of local
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authorities, with oversight of the Section 95 Officer. Local authorities are also required to engage with their local MP and stakeholders on how the fund is to be spent, ensuring complementary activity across the local authority. 2.14 The indicative timeline for delivery of the fund can be summarised as follows: • Winter 2025: Local Authorities to return signed Memorandum of Understanding to MHCLG for release of initial £0.75m. • February 2026: Local Authorities will be asked to return a progress summary; an initial spend forecast across the three objectives for September 2025 to March 2026 and a forecast for the full PiPIF to March 2027. • Financial reporting will then be required on a six-monthly basis to MHCLG from May 2026 to closure of the fund. 2.15 The strategic approach proposed for PiPIF would be to target areas in North Ayrshire which have not benefitted from other Pride in Place Programme Funding. As the additional PiPP neighbourhood is yet to be confirmed, the approach to geographic allocation and the programme, would be the subject of a further report. 2.16 The Regeneration Delivery Plan, alongside Locality Plans, Place Plans and Place Frameworks would thereafter provide a useful starting point for project consideration to inform discussions with Elected Ward Members, Locality Partnerships and Community Stakeholders. 3. Proposals 3.1 That Cabinet: a) Notes and approves the acceptance of the £20m Pride in Place Programme funding allocation. b) Notes the request for and approves the submission of the proposed ‘Neighbourhood’ and associated evidence to UK Government to support selection. c) Notes and approves the acceptance of the £1.5m Pride in Place Impact Fund allocation d) Agrees the proposed approach to the allocation of the Pride in Place Impact Fund allocation. e) Agrees to receive a further report in due course detailing proposed expenditure arrangements for the Pride in Place Impact Fund allocation informed by the confirmation of the successful Pride in Place Programme ‘Neighbourhood’ 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 Both PiPP and PiPIF note the intention to use the Financial Assistance power under Section 50 of the UK Internal Market Act to fund areas directly whilst working with the Scottish Government to determine the most appropriate delivery structure. 4.2 Capacity funding for PiPP will be released in Spring 2026. The initial £0.75m of funding for PiPIF is to be released in November 2025. As noted, the PiPP will include around 37% of the funding to be revenue supporting the delivery and management of the projects. PiPIF is a 100% capital fund.
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Human Resources 4.3 Additional staff resource, in line with the Irvine Plan for Neighbourhoods Regeneration Officer, will be required to support the delivery of the Fund and the development of a Regeneration Plan. The cost of this will be met by the revenue funding outlined in the initial prospectus. Legal 4.4 The legal implications of both PiPP and PiPIF will be considered through its development and Legal advice taken as necessary. Legal agreements will be developed on a project-by-project basis as required with support from Legal Services. Negotiation in relation to land and building acquisitions will be undertaken as necessary with support from the Council’s Legal Services and Property Management and Investment Service. Mechanisms such as Compulsory Purchase Orders will be considered on a case-by-case basis, where considered appropriate. Equality/Socio-economic 4.5 The methodology for the PiPP neighbourhood selection was determined by UK Government and informed by the SCNI and SIMD. The programme aims to support town centre regeneration and promote economic development. This methodology considers metrics covering skills, pay, productivity and health alongside the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. This approach aims to ensure funding is directly awarded to the areas which will benefit most. The development and implementation of the PiPIF and PiPP will provide opportunities to: • Reverse economic, social and physical decline and reduce socio-economic disadvantage within neighbourhoods; • Tackle long term vacant and derelict land and buildings thereby reducing their levels and impact on the community; and • Build community wealth and tackle local deprivation through the regeneration of the neighbourhoods by maximising the potential of land and assets. An initial screening will be undertaken to establish if an Equality and Children’s Rights Impact Assessment is required for individual programme elements on a case-by-case basis. Climate Change and Carbon 4.6 The development of both the PiPIF and the PiPP will enable the delivery of projects aimed at revitalising the most ‘in-need’ neighbourhoods in North Ayrshire. This could include promoting and improving active travel, reducing vacant and derelict land and carbon reduction measures. This aligns with the priorities of the forthcoming Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy and the commitment to reduce carbon emissions through declaration of a Climate Emergency. This will also contribute to the ambition to achieve net zero by 2030.
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Key Priorities 4.7 The development and implementation of the Pride in Place Programme will support all four of the Council Plan’s priorities and strategic aims of: • Wellbeing: To transition to a wellbeing economy, delivering prosperity, wellbeing and resilience for local people. • Communities and Local Democracy: We will have active, inclusive and resilient communities. • Climate Change: To achieve net-zero by 2030. • A Sustainable Council: A Community Wealth Building Council that is efficient and accessible, maximising investment and focusing resources towards our priorities. Community Wealth Building 4.8 The PiPP and PiPIF have the local community at the heart of their methodology. They aim to ensure investment is targeted at local priorities and empower local communities to contribute to the regeneration of neighbourhoods across North Ayrshire. A Community Wealth Building approach will be adopted to the development of the Regeneration Plan for the new neighbourhood, and in the delivery of the PiPIF, ensuring it contributes across the pillars of: • Land and Assets: by supporting equitable land development and the development of underutilised assets for community use. • Procurement: through the inclusion of appropriate community benefit of local supplier clauses within projects; and by considering phasing and programming of projects to create local supply chain opportunities and support delivery by smaller scale and local contractors where appropriate. • Fair Employment: by supporting the creation of employment opportunities particularly within the construction sector. Where North Ayrshire is procuring services, through our enhanced Community Benefits approach we will seek to ensure the creation of local training and work experience opportunities. Consideration will also be given to delivery through employability programmes where appropriate. • Financial Power: by investing in neighbourhoods and leveraging additional external investment. Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) 4.9 None. United Nations Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 4.10 None. Consumer Duty 4.11 None.
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5. Consultation 5.1 Both programmes aim to ensure that local people are at the heart of decisions, through direct membership of the new Neighbourhood Board and through the requirement for engagement with stakeholders on where the PiPIF should be spent. Both programmes will therefore be developed through co-production with the Neighbourhood Board and extensive engagement with stakeholders. This approach will be informed by engagement with Connected Communities. It will build on work to date, Locality Partnership’s priorities, the Regeneration Delivery Plan and previous consultation exercises. Updates will be provided to all Locality Partnerships on the PiPIF and to the approved PIPP neighbourhood when agreed. RUSSELL McCUTCHEON Executive Director (Place) For further information please contact Claire Fitzsimmons, Senior Manager Regeneration, on 01294 315305. Background Papers Cabinet Report – Long-Term Plan for Towns, 5 December 2023 Council Report – Irvine Town Centre: Long-term Plan for Towns, 18 September 2024 Council Report – Irvine: Plan for Neighbourhoods, 14 May 2025
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Appendix One Intermediate Zone Assessment The following table outlines the UK Government's assessment and ranks IZ using data from the Scottish Community Needs Index (SCNI) and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), in order of most in need areas in North Ayrshire. The SCNI rank and the SIMD ranks have been combined using a 75:25 weighted average to form a combined index for each 2011 IZ. IZ in yellow are excluded from consideration as they fall within a UK Parliamentary Constituency with an existing award. IZcode IZname IZ population UK Parliamentary Constituency Combined SIMD & SCNI Rank (where 1 is most disadvantaged) S02002105 Irvine Castlepark North 3399 Central Ayrshire 2 S02002102 Irvine Bourtreehill 2329 Central Ayrshire 3 S02002121 Kilwinning West and Blacklands 4044 Central Ayrshire 4 S02002118 Stevenston Hayocks 3831 North Ayrshire and Arran 6 S02002106 Irvine Castlepark South 3374 Central Ayrshire 11 S02002120 Kilwinning Pennyburn 2984 North Ayrshire and Arran 12 S02002101 Irvine Broomlands 2596 Central Ayrshire 13 S02002111 Saltcoats Central 3511 North Ayrshire and Arran 15 S02002132 Kilbirnie South and Longbar 3911 North Ayrshire and Arran 16 S02002112 Ardrossan Central 2954 North Ayrshire and Arran 17 S02002116 Saltcoats North East 4949 North Ayrshire and Arran 19 S02002114 Ardrossan North East 4235 North Ayrshire and Arran 23 S02002109 Irvine Fullarton 2424 Central Ayrshire 51 S02002107 Irvine East 3000 Central Ayrshire 53 S02002131 Kilbirnie North 3187 North Ayrshire and Arran 74 S02002103 Irvine Girdle Toll and Stanecastle 4302 Central Ayrshire 79 S02002100 Dreghorn 3357 Central Ayrshire 85 S02002110 Stevenston Ardeer 2981 North Ayrshire and Arran 109 S02002104 Irvine Perceton and Lawthorn 4525 Central Ayrshire 127 S02002123 Dalry East and Rural 2859 North Ayrshire and Arran 147
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IZcode IZname IZ population UK Parliamentary Constituency Combined SIMD & SCNI Rank (where 1 is most disadvantaged) S02002126 West Kilbride and Seamill 4454 North Ayrshire and Arran 156 S02002113 Ardrossan North West 3066 North Ayrshire and Arran 164 S02002122 Kilwinning Central and North 3851 North Ayrshire and Arran 166 S02002124 Dalry West 2915 North Ayrshire and Arran 168 S02002133 Beith West 2863 North Ayrshire and Arran 188 S02002128 Largs Central and Cumbrae 4605 North Ayrshire and Arran 191 S02002117 Stevenston North West 2587 North Ayrshire and Arran 193 S02002097 Arran 4643 North Ayrshire and Arran 202 S02002134 Beith East and Rural 3933 North Ayrshire and Arran 220 S02002119 Kilwinning Whitehirst Park and Woodside 4818 North Ayrshire and Arran 237 S02002098 Springside and Rural 3240 Central Ayrshire 241 S02002108 Irvine Central 3229 Central Ayrshire 254 S02002129 Largs North 3954 North Ayrshire and Arran 410 S02002115 Saltcoats North West 3329 North Ayrshire and Arran 435 S02002130 Skelmorlie and Rural 2757 North Ayrshire and Arran 472 S02002127 Largs South 3652 North Ayrshire and Arran 480 S02002099 Irvine Tarryholme 3134 Central Ayrshire 552 S02002125 Fairlie and Rural 3631 North Ayrshire and Arran 747
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Appendix Two The completed UK Government submission and map showing the extents of the proposed Three Towns neighbourhood are provided below.
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Pride In Place Neighbourhood Selection Questionnaire 1. Suggested name for proposed neighbourhood The name should clearly communicate the proposed neighbourhood area in a way that would be recognised and easily understood by local residents. The Three Towns – this submission is subject to Cabinet consideration/approval on 02 December 2025. 2. Existing government support targeted at the proposed neighbourhood Please provide an outline of any pre-existing government programmes targeted at regeneration or community support in this area. e.g. SG’s Empowering Communities Programme. The Council has placed the regeneration of communities at the heart of its agenda. This focus is reflected within the priorities of the Council Plan and Community Wealth Building Strategy. The Regeneration Delivery Plan sets out our priorities for delivering on these ambitions and was approved by Cabinet on 23 March 2021. The Plan focuses on the delivery of physical regeneration. Informed by stakeholder consultation, reviewing existing community priorities and the output of previous consultations, it aims to address local priorities, support changes within communities and deliver a well-being economy. The Regeneration Delivery Plan is delivered through an ambitious rolling action focused programme. This approach seeks to ensure that the project list never exceeds a realistic assessment of capacity, with projects prioritised annually. It informs priorities for securing and delivering against funding sources informed by communities’ ambitions and priorities. In recent years, North Ayrshire Council has received targeted funding support from UK and Scottish Government from a range of regeneration funding sources. In relation to the Three Towns, this includes: - UK Community Renewal Fund for Place Framework development in Saltcoats - UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support community initiatives - Scottish Government Place Based Investment Programme to support community initiatives, public realm improvements and climate change opportunities. - Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for projects including Ardrossan Promenade, Stevenston Beach Hub and Saltcoats Training Station - Scottish Government Vacant and Derelict Land Funding to support works being delivered as part of the Ardrossan Coastal Quarter - Scottish Government Town Centre Fund for public realm improvements, shopfront improvements, and development of community priorities - UK Government Levelling Up Fund for the B714 Upgrade. Proposals for each allocation are considered by Cabinet on an annual basis, the 2025-26 Cabinet Paper is available to view via the following link: Document.ashx. North Ayrshire is one of three local authorities involved in the Collaboration for Health Equity
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in Scotland (CHES) programme, alongside national partners in the form of Public Health Scotland the Institute for Health Equity (led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot). Participation in this programme is increasing our focus on improving health outcomes and reducing health inequity through the lens of the social determinants of health. The programme includes a focus in the Three Towns locality based upon an assessment of data and need that was reviewed by our CHES Steering Group. Members of that steering group include senior representatives from North Ayrshire Council, the Health and Social Partnership, NHA Ayrshire and Arran, business, the third sector and other members of the Community Planning Partnership. The work in the Three Towns has a key focus on good employment and fair work across the three intermediate data zones of Ardrossan Central, Saltcoats Central and Stevenston Hayocks. As part of this, North Ayrshire is also currently engaged with Public Health Scotland to become the second test site for the Public Health Approach to Learning (PHAL) programme. PHAL is a groundbreaking collaborative project in Scotland spearheaded by Public Health Scotland (PHS), Education Scotland (ES), and the Scottish Prevention Hub (SPH). Driven by the needs of our Headteachers and schools, its core objective is to enhance the health, well-being, and educational outcomes of children and young people (CYP) across the nation and reduce entry into the criminal justice system. Through its data led multi-agency approach. PHAL highlights the importance of children and young people, education staff and schools as anchor institutions within our communities and a key focus for intervention. In parallel, we are also part of the Scottish Government’s Fairer Futures Partnership (FFP). As part of that programme, we are currently working alongside community-based organisations in the Stevenston Hayocks IZ. Co-designed with Argyle Community Association, Saltcoats Link Up, and local people with experience of family poverty, support will be targeted to engage families through activities held in Argyle Community Centre and Hayocks Community Hall. Based on developing relationships while building skills, confidence and knowledge with these parents, the Fairer Futures Programme will provide wraparound, holistic and person-centred support to enable families to determine their own needs while being alongside them to access a range of services across the key drivers of child poverty. The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) has been supporting this work issuing co-design partner grants for the community-based organisations and contributing to the learning and evaluation of these tests of change. Arran Community & Voluntary Service are also funded through the TSI Fairer Futures Partnership by Scottish Government in developing training and capacity building learning opportunities for the third sector’s meaningful role in this work. 3. Organisations involved in community-led regeneration Please provide information on any organisations working with the community to deliver regeneration projects and community owned assets within the proposed area - e.g. Community Development Trusts, Community Councils. North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) brings together public agencies, communities, the private and third sectors to work in partnership locally to plan and deliver better services. This includes all services that might affect the community such as: social work, home care, adult protection, roads, antisocial behaviour services, business support, play parks, housing,
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education and healthcare- among others. They work together on shared priorities which are detailed in the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan, the North Ayrshire Partnership Plan. The CPP has six Locality Partnerships covering the Local Authority area. These fulfil the duty in the Community Empowerment Act 2015 to have locality arrangements. The Three Towns Locality Partnership covers the three towns of Stevenston, Saltcoats and Ardrossan. The Locality Partnership provides support for the communities to help them do what is needed to tackle the issues that they have identified as priorities for their local area. These are outlined in the Locality Plan. More information including its membership is detailed here. The LP priorities are: Promoting the local economy and tourism, Regenerating community facilities, Increasing civic pride and community engagement and Improving community wellbeing. The proposed neighbourhood has a broad range of community organisations who deliver regeneration projects including Ardrossan Community Development Trust, Stevenston Community Council, Stevenston Community Company, Raise your Voice Ardeer, Ripple Effect Saltcoats, Ardrossan Community Sports Hub, Whitlees Community Association, Three Towns Growers, Hayocks Tenants and Residents Association, Scottish Centre for Personal Safety and North Ayrshire Foodbank and Larder. In addition to the above, the Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) in Stevenston Hayocks have successfully received funding for developing a much-needed local playpark for community regeneration. In relation to Community Asset Transfers in the Three Towns, two have been completed and another six potentials are in progress. 4. Information about acute social or economic issues within the proposed neighbourhood area Please provide information about economic and social issues in the area that are unlikely to be captured in the SIMD 2020 data. For example please provide qualitative and/or quantitative information about the impacts from the closing of a key local employer; increased levels of homelessness due to housing shortages; community cohesion or integration challenges; or rising levels of crime or anti-social behaviour. Unemployment rates The 6 IMZs have historically suffered from higher unemployment rates than Scotland or North Ayrshire overall, indicating lack of available jobs, and skills mismatch, among other issues (see Table 1 below) (claimant count data used as a proxy for unemployment rate here): Table 1 Intermediate Zone 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Ardrossan Central 12.4% 10.5% 10.3% 9.7% 9.2% Saltcoats Central 11.9% 9.0% 10.7% 10.0% 8.3% Stevenston Ardeer 8.2% 6.0% 5.5% 5.2% 4.2% Stevenston Hayocks 9.2% 6.7% 6.9% 7.3% 6.1% Stevenston North West 8.1% 6.4% 5.7% 4.6% 5.0%
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North Ayrshire 6.1% 4.5% 4.3% 4.6% 4.0% Scotland 4.5% 3.2% 3.0% 3.2% 3.0% Intermediate Zone Ardrossan Central Saltcoats Ce ntral Stevenston Hayocks Stevenston Ardeer Stevenston North West North Ayrshire Scotland Life expectancy, females 75.1 76.6 81 80.8 77.6 79.5 80.7 Life expectancy, males 66.3 67.8 73.7 75.3 69.9 74.6 76.5 Deaths all ages per 100,000 1753 1889 1162 1758 1645 1310 1172 Deaths, aged 15-44 years per 100,000 333.4 236 154.5 158.6 482.5 161 111.7
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Early deaths from cancer, aged <75 years per 100,000 225.7 215.2 167.7 130.8 277.8 160.9 142.4 Early deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD), aged <75 years per 100,000 170.9 155.3 76.2 35.3 52.4 72.3 54.5 Data: ScotPHO The performance against the equivalent indicators for North Ayrshire and Scotland is poor, almost across the board. To focus on some of the most concerning indicators: • Male life expectancy: for Ardrossan Central this is 66.3 years. This is 8.3 fewer years than North Ayrshire and 10.2 fewer years than for Scotland. • Deaths aged 15-44 years (per 100,000): at 333.4 for Ardrossan Central, this is more than double the North Ayrshire rate and almost three times the rate for Scotland. For Stevenston North West this is 482.5: more than four times the Scottish rate. • Early deaths from coronary heart disease, aged <75 years (per 100,000): for Saltcoats Central, at 155.3, this is almost three times the Scottish rate and more than double the rate for North Ayrshire. Children and young people Intermediate Zone Ardrossan Central Saltcoats Central Stevenston Hayocks Stevenston Ardeer Stevenston North West North Ayrshire Scotland Percentage of children living in poverty (previously low income families) 42.7 37.5 40.1 23.8 27.9 29.4 21.8 Percentage of children with developmen tal concerns at 27-30 months assessment 19.30 25.70 25.70 14.90 25.50 19.8 16.9 Percentage of children with attendance below 90% (2024) 49% 48% 42% 35% 38% - - Looking at a selection of socio-economic indicators related to children, again, the data is concerning when we compare to the picture for Scotland and North Ayrshire: • Percentage of children living in poverty (previously low income families): for all of the six IMZs, except for Stevenston Ardeer, there are high or very high levels of child poverty compared to the Scottish and North Ayrshire rates. Ardrossan Central, in particular,
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has an exceptionally high child poverty rate of 42.7%: almost double that of Scotland. • Percentage of children with developmental concerns at 27-30 months assessment: for Saltcoats Central and Stevenston Hayocks, 1 in 4 children fall into this category. This compares to approximately 1 in 5 for North Ayrshire and fewer than 1 in 5 for Scotland. Feedback gathered from 146 local families across the Three Towns during FFP community conversations over summer 2025 highlighted that child poverty is not just about income but about opportunity, wellbeing, and inclusion. The absence of affordable activities, safe play spaces, and accessible support services means that children living in poverty experience restricted opportunities compared to their peers. Parents spoke openly about the stress of financial insecurity, the stigma in seeking help, and the barriers to participation in community life. At the same time, families identified solutions that could directly reduce the impacts of poverty: free activities, food provision, stigma-free advice, and greater investment in community-based services. A researched and understood impact of child poverty correlates to effects on children’s attainment in education, perpetuating a longer-term cycle of intergenerational poverty with less opportunity for fair work and employment as adults. Part of the FFP data collation has highlighted the difference for children in receipt of school clothing grants to their peers at school without this grant. An example of this in Saltcoats North East shows only 58% of children with SCG will reach expected attainment in literacy compared to 86% of their peers, while for numeracy attainment this is 62% for children with and 85% for children without SCGs. Intermediate Zone Percentage Percentage Percentage Percentage Percentage Percentage of children of school of school of school of P1 + P4 + of P1 + P4 + with leavers leavers leavers P7 children P7 children attendance gaining at gaining at gaining at attaining attaining below 90% least one least one least one CfE level in CfE level in (2024) award at award at award at literacy numeracy SCQF level 5 SCQF level 5 SCQF level 6 (2024) (2024) or better in or better in or above Literacy Numeracy (2022-24) (2022-24) (2022-24) Ardrossan Central 49% 78% 66% 71% 63% 68% Saltcoats Central 48% 71% 50% 50% 77% 83% Stevenston Hayocks 42% 82% 66% 71% 70% 80% Stevenston Ardeer 35% 67% 56% 53% 68% 70% Stevenston North West 38% 73% 60% 57% 77% 75% Other notable indicators: Intermediate Zone Percentage Child Child Number of of children dental dental children under with health in health in 16 actively developme primary 1 primary 7 benefitting ntal from Scottish concerns at Child Payment 27-30 months assessment Ardrossan Central 19.30 50 87.5 240 Saltcoats Central 25.70 43.3 80 340 Stevenston Hayocks 25.70 51.1 58.7 540 Stevenston Ardeer 14.90 69 85.7 295
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Stevenston North West 25.50 69.2 63.6 185 North Ayrshire 19.8 69 70.1 10385 Scotland 16.9 73.9 76 325790 Intermediate Zone Claimant (count) Claimant (%) Percentage of population in receipt of out of work benefits Percentage of school leavers in a positive post-school destination (2022-24) Percentage of young adults (16-19 year olds) participating in education, training or employment Crime rate per 10,000 Emergency patient hospitalisations per 100,000 Ardrossan Central 170 9.0% 41.3 95% 91 2271 11004 Saltcoats Central 180 8.6% 37.6 93% 88 2964 10410 Stevenston Hayocks 160 6.5% 28.7 96% 88 1549 9918 Stevenston Ardeer 85 4.4% 24.4 97% 92 1669 10262 Stevenston North West 75 5.3% 26.5 96% 92 2404 9978 North Ayrshire 3,290 N/A 20.8 N/A 92 1389 8624 Scotland N/A N/A 14.4 N/A 93 1335 7243 Across the Three Towns there has been extensive consultation to identify community needs. The local priorities have been decided by each locality and were based on information gathered about their own local area. This includes national data, local statistics and the views of local people through the people’s panel survey and by using the place standard tool to identify need. The overarching Locality Priorities for the Three Towns are: 1. Promoting the local economy and tourism 2. Regenerating community facilities 3. Increasing civic pride and community engagement 4. Improving community wellbeing As noted above there has been additional specific work within the towns, which has been summarised below, and full detail attached to this submission. Three Towns Charette In June 2017 people from across the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston in North Ayrshire came together to develop the Three Towns Charette and create a plan for making positive changes across the area. Stevenston Local Place Plan The Steventon Local Place Plan was prepared by Stevenston Community Council in 2024. The plan was informed by a data driven approach utilising community surveys to identify ideas, and a subsequent survey to prioritise these ideas. The community’s main aspirations for the town focused on radically improving the town centre in terms of its open space and retail infrastructure and protecting the town’s green spaces and built heritage. Saltcoats Place Framework Saltcoats was one of three towns in North Ayrshire selected as part of a pilot to develop a
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Place Framework approach, with funding and support from the UK Government under the Community Renewal Fund (CRF) and Scottish Government under the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP). This place-based approach seeks to enable and support socio-economic and environmental regeneration in response to local priorities and need, and in line with Council and Government policy objectives. The Saltcoats Place Framework is deliberately aligned with the strategic objectives of the Three Towns Locality Planning Partnership. The Place Framework also supports, and should be read in conjunction with, relevant local and national policies to help deliver local impact and outcomes. 1. Town Centre and ‘High Street’ Projects 2. Coastal/Seafront Projects 3. Enhancing a Network of Open Space Amenities. 4. Improving Connections throughout Saltcoats. 5. Providing Convenient Access to Good Local Services, Amenities and Opportunities. Ardrossan Community Development Trust consulted extensively in 2023 as part of their wider business planning when submitting a Community Asset Transfer. The work brought out a consistent set of themes from the Ardrossan community: • Development of the seafront and promenade; • Securing better sporting, leisure and play facilities particularly for young people; • Creating a town that tourists and visitors want to visit; • Enhancing the natural and historical assets of the town; and • Levering in funding & investment bringing employment opportunities 5. Information about social capital building potential in the proposed neighbourhood area. The SCNI has been used to identify areas with low social capital - specifically those with lower levels of: ● Presence and accessibility of community, civic, educational, and cultural facilities ● Civic participation, engagement with the third sector Please provide any information about local potential to build social capital in the neighbourhood by increasing the above. For example, please provide data and information on community asset transfer requests, community wealth building projects, or co-operative enterprises. Within the attached documentation there are a broad range of social capital projects which demonstrate the level of community engagement and community-led regeneration. The priorities above demonstrate the community needs within each town, and the overarching locality priorities, which bring the towns together. Intermediate Zone Accessible People living Recreational Social and public open in 15% most resources cultural spaces 'access space deprived' areas Ardrossan Central 100 0 100 92 Saltcoats Central 100 0 100 100 Stevenston Hayocks 100 0 100 88
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Stevenston Ardeer 85 0 85 72 Stevenston North West 100 0 94 98 6. Boundaries of proposed neighbourhood This should be a single contiguous area containing between approximately 5,000 people and 15,000 people. The boundaries should be defined using a contiguous cluster of either ‘2011 Data Zones’ or ‘2011 Intermediate Zones‘ - using Scotland Census 2022 population data. Please provide a map of the proposed boundary if possible. The Scotland Office is available to assist with this if required. 7. ‘High need’ Intermediate Zones within the proposed neighbourhood Please indicate which of the listed high-need IZs (using the list we have provided) fall within the proposed neighbourhood boundary IZcode IZname IZ population Combined IMD & CNI Rank (where 1 is most disadvantaged) S02002118 Stevenston Hayocks 3,831 6 S02002111 Saltcoats Central 3,511 15 S02002112 Ardrossan Central 2,954 17
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S02002117 Stevenston North West 2,587 193 S01011234 Stevenston Ardeer - 02 (DZ) 1007 109 S01011235 Stevenston Ardeer – 03 (DZ) 297 109 S01011236 Stevenston Ardeer – 04 (DZ) 454 109 Total 14,641
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Stevenston Hayocks Ardrossan Central Stevenston North West Stevenston Ardeer Saltcoats - 03 Central Stevenston Ardeer - 04 Stevenston Ardeer - 02 Legend 2011 DTZ & IMX SG Map Title: Three Towns Neighbourhood Plan Logo: Scale: 1:20,000 Paper Size: A3 Copyright Statement: Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey map with the permission of the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Licence No. 100023393.