THE future of Irvine’s Red Cross House is still unclear - six months after North Ayrshire Council saved the facility.

NAC say they are still considering options for the service - which houses around 20 residents with a range of disabilities - after purchasing the former Options for Independence centre back in June.

Red Cross House announced closure plans in December 2015 which left its residents homeless and 77 members of staff redundant.

But the council and NHS Ayrshire & Arran stepped in to take over the running of the building with plans to transform the facility into a community rehabilitation centre.

This was at the expense of a proposed £6million disability day centre in Stevenston with a newly-developed Red Cross House preferred as a replacement.

The council said at the time that this decision would be more cost effective and provide better facilities than the proposal in Stevenston.

However, since the takeover was first revealed by the Times, no further progress has been made

A planning application and funding is yet to be revealed with the Health and Social Care Partnership already feeling the heat from budget constraints.

And there won’t be any new funding for the project with the council saying existing NAC and NHS resources will pay for the refurbishment.

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “The council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran are currently considering proposals for Red Cross House. 

“Consultation has taken place with carers and people who use learning disability services. 

“While the final proposals have yet to be decided, we expect that the facility will continue to be used for residential care and will be redeveloped to include day services. 

“This service will be funded from existing resources within the council and NHS.”