Celebrating 40 years of Cunninghame Housing Association

And the Ayrshire-based housing group have been looking back on decades of service to the communities they serve – as well as looking forward to new projects in the years to come.

Since their humble roots in Ardrossan when they started off with just over 60 homes, they now look after more than 3,500 across North and East Ayrshire, as well as Dumfries and Galloway.

The association say they are committed to making their communities better places and being more than just a landlord.

Mr Northcote, longest tenant of CHA, with Linda Anderson, Interim CEO and Janet Strang, chairperson (Image: CHA) This includes the creation of the Making Our Communities Better Places fund for community groups and individuals as well the creation of two subsidiary companies, Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company (CFRC) in 2010 and Citrus Energy in 2013, as well as their award winning Lemon Aid Fuel Poverty service.

This year, to celebrate their 40th anniversary, CHA has continued to give back to the communities they serve.

This has included a 40th voucher giveaway scheme for tenants, free summer fun days in North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway and their 13th annual tenants conference in the Seamill Hydro.

The CHA AGM 2024 (Image: CHA) CHA also held their AGM earlier this year, which had a 40th birthday theme, and an afternoon tea following the AGM for share members and invited guests.

Chairperson Janet Strang said: ‘’As we celebrate 40 years, we reflect on our journey from humble beginnings to becoming more than just a landlord.

"The drive and commitment from our board of management over the years, and their ability to work tirelessly on a voluntary basis, has allowed the organisation to grow and prosper.

This year's Ardrossan fun day (Image: CHA) "This milestone also reflects the dedication of our staff, the commitment of our tenants and the strength of our shared vision as we continue to support the communities in which we serve.

"We look forward to building on this legacy for many years to come."

The Three Towns Housing Association was registered on October 30, 1984.  Located in a shop unit on Glasgow Street, the association then had 66 properties and eight members of staff.

Team building event (Image: CHA) The first development was the refurbishment of tenement flats in Quay Street in Saltcoats.

Working in partnership with (then) Cunninghame District Council, the focus in the early days was dealing with unfit private housing in disrepair and tenemental refurbishment within the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston.

Stock transfers from Scottish Homes and the Isle of Cumbrae Housing Association, then Longpark Ownership Co-operative Kilmarnock opened up their geographical areas to include the whole of North and East Ayrshire.

A name change to Cunninghame Housing Association in 1990 heralded the start of the transformation of CHA over the next three decades.

Significant growth through their new build programme was to follow as the association became a prolific housebuilder, delivering quality new build homes for rent across their areas of operation.

CHA's 2024 conference (Image: CHA)

A move to Dumfries and Galloway in 2017 opened up a new region where new housing has been built in areas such as Gretna, Annan , Lockerbie and Dumfries.

Presently, CHA manages 3,587 homes across three regions and have 155 staff members. 

As for the future, the CHA Board has set a clear vision and strategy for the next five years and say the association remains dedicated to improving the lives of tenants and customers and building on this relationship as they move forward.