Construction work has started on the new sheltered housing development in Saltcoats. The construction work is being carried out on behalf of North Ayrshire Council and the new unit has been tailored to the needs of the older population of North Ayrshire. The project has recently had their ground-breaking ceremony and is thought to be the first sheltered housing project delivered by the construction and infrastructure partnership Hub South West for North Ayrshire council. The £6.1 million project will deliver 36 new dwellings and will be located on the former Canal Court site in Saltcoats. When complete, Canal Court will offer 36 one and two-bedroomed flats. All of the accommodation will be wheelchair accessible and on the site will also be a social services hub which will allow older people to live independently in their own homes. There will also be a range of communal areas constructed such as a lounge, dining room, private courtyard and a ‘visiting services’ room. The construction of the Canal Court complex will showcase the excellent supply chain services on offer in the area. Hub South West Scotland have never taken on a housing project before, and this project will therefore be a great way for the organisation to expand into a new sector. The hub; a partnership that seeks to enable the design and construction of community facilities and services, hopes to demonstrate the excellence of the supply chain in this area. The contractor for this project is a local construction business, Ashleigh Building Ltd. The sheltered accommodation is expected to be complete with the handover of the project back to North Ayrshire Council predicted to take place on the 31st of July 2018. The Canal Court complex is a great contract for Ashleigh Building Ltd, as a tier-1 contractor as is allows them to boost their local employment figures and also improve their apprenticeship programme and offering other supply chain opportunities in the area.