Latest news with #AffordableHousingSupplyProgramme
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Work begins on new council home development in Millerston
Work has begun on the site at Coshneuk Road in Millerton, as part of North Lanarkshire Council's wider plan to deliver 6000 homes by 2035. The properties will include a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, as well as two, three, and four-bedroom houses and a bungalow designed for disabled access. Councillor Michael McPake, housing convener, said: "It's always pleasing to mark the beginning of another new council housing project which will deliver more new homes for our tenants, particularly in an area of high demand. "We're making significant progress in delivering our new supply programme, providing jobs, boosting the local economy, and building homes for our tenants now and for generations to come. "It's all part of our ambition to make North Lanarkshire the place to live, and I look forward to watching the new homes progress." Read more: Plans to build five-bedroom villas revealed - what we know (Image: North Lanarkshire Council) The £4.2 million development is being delivered in partnership with The JR Group and will receive grant funding from the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme. Expected to be completed by spring 2026, the development will feature ground source heat pumps to reduce heating emissions, along with triple-glazed windows, high levels of insulation, and solar panels. The homes are designed to meet Housing for Varying Needs standards, allowing them to adapt to residents' changing requirements, and are built to Secure by Design principles to improve safety and security. Read more: 'Urgent' road closure put in place in busy area - here's where Gary McGregor, managing director of The JR Group, said: "As a business, we are committed to playing our part in delivering much-needed, energy-efficient new homes to communities across Scotland, so it is fantastic to be working alongside North Lanarkshire Council to deliver our first project for them. "Coshneuk Road is a well-considered development and sits in a fantastic, well-established community, close to local amenities. "As a brownfield site, it is great to see it brought back to life and given a new purpose. "The homes we are building here are modern, spacious, and energy efficient, and we look forward to progressing works in the coming months."
Glasgow Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Work on more than 30 affordable homes in Paisley now complete
Built by McTaggart Construction, the 33 new homes for Williamsburgh Housing Association have been erected at Cartha Crescent. The delivery of the homes was made available due to the efforts with Renfrewshire Council and a grant of £3.2 million from The Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme. The project site, located approximately 1.3 km southeast of the town centre, was previously an unoccupied area of land. It is claimed that the development will "provide much-needed affordable housing solutions" and contribute to "addressing the ongoing housing crisis in the region". Allan Russell, a local and the site manager who led the project to completion, said: "Cartha Crescent has been an excellent development, and it holds a special place in my heart as it marks my first project in a leadership role. "The opportunity to grow from starting out with McTaggart to leading this significant project highlights the dedication and commitment of the entire McTaggart Construction team." READ MORE: Clydebank mum's despair as son can't play in garden Jonathan Grant, CEO at Williamsburgh Housing Association, said : "This is a fantastic development providing much needed family homes in our community. "The area has been completely transformed and everyone at WHA is thrilled for the tenants who have such a vibrant place to call home. "I would like to express my thanks to the team at McTaggart Construction who have worked tirelessly to deliver this project." George Adam MSP also praised the development. He added: "It was a real pleasure to have the chance to visit these new energy efficient homes, they have a really modern design, they are very spacious, and I was very impressed with the structural elements and fittings within each new home. "Williamsburgh Housing Association and McTaggart Construction have produced housing that is a credit to our town and the local community, they are to be congratulated. "With a bit of help from the Scottish Government this is the type of affordable housing that we should aspire to create throughout the country."
The Herald Scotland
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
'Incompetent' ScotGov 'failings' on affordable homes pledge laid bare
The Scottish Government-backed Affordable Housing Supply Programme was officially launched in March 2022 with a fanfare fronted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon which stated that of 110,000 homes promised by 2032, 77,700 would be for social rent - aimed at low income families. But since then, official data shows there have been 28,537 affordable homes delivered - 5000 short of what was needed to be on target to deliver on the pledge. Having fallen behind, to fulfil on its promise by 2032, the Scottish Government would have to deliver at a rate of 1005-a-month from now on, but that is two-and-a-half times the 396 affordable homes-a-month that actually were approved for public funding in 2024/25. To meet its pledge over the building of social homes for rent, the Scottish Government would have had had to oversee the delivery of 23,692 homes, but currently ministers are around 2,800 short of what was needed to be on target. The afforeable homes pledge (Image: NQ) To meet the promise of 77,000 homes for social rent by 2032, ministers would have to deliver at a rate of around 690-per-month from now on. But it can be revealed that in 2024/25 an average of just 347 affordable homes for social rent were being approved per month for funding - the lowest level for a decade. The Scottish Tenants Organisation said that the delivery of affordable homes has been shown to be "woefully short" and said that it shows the "sheer scale of this catastrophe in the social rented sector being overseen by this incompetent Scottish Government" and said there needs to be an emergency housing action plan. They said: "The Scottish Government is clearly failing the people of Scotland with declining approvals, starts and completions in the affordable housing supply programme and at this rate will fail to meet their own housing targets. This is completely unacceptable." Housing rights group Living Rent said that despite declaring a housing emergency a year ago, it has "completely failed to show any leadership on solving the crisis of affordable housing". Read more: "Declaring the emergency should have pushed the government to take concerted action but instead we have seen empty statements and not enough funding," they said. The Herald revealed in 2023 how professional standards body CIH had raised concerns over cuts to the budget and warned progress on homelessness is at risk without a funding commitment over rapid rehousing in permanent homes rather than in temporary accommodation. In the wake of the Scottish Government making a symbolic housing emergency declaration in mid-May, last year the key housing professionals group had said that while it is a start, it was not enough as the affordable homes budget, a key part of the Scottish Government bid to end the crisis lost more than £300m over the previous two years alone. John Swinney (Image: NQ) But in December, John Swinney reversed a near £200m annual cut to the provision of affordable homes although campaigners said it still fell short of what is needed to end the housing and homelessness crisis. The Herald's seven-point charter for change to help end Scotland's housing emergency, launched last July, was credited by some for sparking the change of heart. It included a call to cut the number of children living in temporary accommodation and a significant increase in the building of affordable homes. New official analysis further shows that the number of all new housebuilding starts continued to drop in 2024/25 after and is at its lowest since 2012/13 with 15,053 begun in the last financial year. Some 13 of Scotland's 32 councils declared housing emergencies since Argyll and Bute Council became the first in June 2023. It comes as the number of small and medium size (SME) home builders has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Red tape and rising costs are highlighted as key issues, with nearly 9 in 10 survey respondents saying government policies are making it harder for them to build, according to sector body Homes for Scotland. Sean Clerkin, campaign co-ordinator of the STO said: "Affordable housing has to become the number one priority for the Scottish Government which means that they have to spend hundreds of millions of pounds more to build tens of thousands of new affordable homes to provide warm and secure homes for all so as to greatly reduce social housing waiting lists and eradicate homelessness in Scotland." Aditi Jehangir, chairman of Living Rent, added: "Every voice on the issue is in agreement. Scotland needs more social housing. This government needs to take proper action now. Gordon MacRae, Shelter Scotland's assistant director for communications & advocacy, said the decline in the number of social homes being delivered was the "inevitable, and entirely foreseeable, consequence of repeated changes to the housing budget and lack of urgent action from the Scottish Government". Gordon MacRae (Image: Sarah Beveridge) He said: "If ministers fail to deliver the 110,000 new affordable homes by 2032, they will turn their backs on the thousands of people in Scotland who are being harmed by temporary accommodation while waiting for their forever home. 'Homelessness is rising across the country, and this is the opportunity for our new cabinet secretary for housing to lead in tackling the housing emergency and do things differently. We need homes for people experiencing homelessness and to get those 10,360 children out of temporary accommodation. This must start with sustained investment for more social homes.' Earlier this month the First Minister urged the UK Government to take more action and spend more money to address Scotland's housing crisis. Two weeks ago the First Minister was subsequently challenged to finally fix Scotland's housing emergency after the UK Government announced a multi-billion pound investment to build more affordable homes. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that £39 billion will be spent over the next 10 years in England to boost the supply of properties available for social and mid-market rent. The Chancellor announced the Scottish Government will receive £52 bn in total over the next three years, which means an additional £9bn for Holyrood by 2029. That came as it was announced Mairi McAllan would serve as the new Cabinet Secretary for Housing after receiving constant criticism in slumps in new build properties at a time of rising homelessness. The housing secretary said: 'Having a safe, warm and affordable place to call home is critical to a life of dignity and opportunity. The Scottish Government has a strong record in supporting the delivery of affordable homes but demand is high and we must step up our efforts." She said the affordable homes delivery analysis demonstrated "the challenge we face, but it will be my top priority to ensure everyone in Scotland, and in particular our children, have the opportunity to thrive and I am focussed on delivering that real change". She added: 'These challenges, which are not unique to Scotland, are made harder to tackle due to an incredibly difficult financial settlement from the UK Government. However, we have consistently invested and have delivered more than 139,000 affordable homes from 2007 to March 2025. 99,000 of these have been made available for social rent. That's 47% more per head of population than England and 73% more than Wales as of March 2024. 'I will re-double efforts now by investing £768m this financial year in affordable housing and give tenants stronger protection against damp and mould through Awaab's Law. We'll also invest a further £2m this year to help councils unlock barriers and to target empty homes."
Glasgow Times
14-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
'Our homelessness services are under significant pressure'
We are aware that the number of people living in temporary homeless accommodation is at a record high, from reports provided by Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership. Currently, staff at the Health and Social Care Partnership are focusing on supporting people who are living in an emergency situation. At the moment, the demand for housing in Glasgow is much greater than the housing supply. There can be a delay of several years before people who are homeless can access a permanent house or flat. Homeless charities highlight that the cuts by the UK Department for Work and Pensions towards Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit will lead to a further increase in homelessness. Decisions by the UK Government in the year ahead are likely to exacerbate our already stretched council services. The Scottish Government is mitigating the UK Government's Bedroom Tax. We know that this funding would be better spent tackling the housing crisis and the UK Government should scrap this tax. There is a Housing Transfer Incentive Scheme in Glasgow which can help release large housing association homes by encouraging people in 'under-occupied' properties with three rooms or more, to downsize. Tenants can access appropriately sized homes to meet their needs through specific housing support services. We can welcome the Scottish Parliament's Housing Inquiry by the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee which has published a series of recommendations to support further collaboration by the Scottish Government with housing providers to deliver a national overarching Housing Emergency Action Plan by the end of this session. We need the Scottish Government to provide clarity on whether its additional funding for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget will ensure that it meets its target of providing 110,000 affordable homes by 2030. It is vital that housing is a priority and that the Scottish Government considers the importance of increasing the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget. There has been significant partnership working undertaken to respond to the housing crisis. We can welcome the number of housing associations providing lets to tenants who are homeless across Glasgow. The Scottish Government can explore the opportunities available by increasing social investment in housing. The capacity of housing associations could be developed to increase the number of homes, especially for families, in our local communities. There is a need to ensure clarity for housing providers on the intended statutory requirement for homes to meet net-zero standards. Uncertainty is deterring housing development and this needs to be addressed to help tackle the housing crisis. We can support the appointment of Màiri McAllan as Cabinet Secretary for Housing to ensure that there is increased focus on tackling the housing crisis and providing energy-efficient homes for the future. It is vital that the new Cabinet Secretary can use all the powers at her disposal to address the housing crisis we face.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spend every penny of increased cash on affordable housing, charity urges
Scottish ministers have been urged to fully pass on a funding increase caused by a boost in housing spend by the UK Government. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on Wednesday £39 billion would be spent over the next decade on housing. The cash will result in an increase in funding for Scotland, though the Treasury has as yet been unable to say how much extra cash will come north of the border. The announcement comes as the Scottish Government has been dealing with a housing emergency in the country for more than a year and as Mairi McAllan was appointed Housing Secretary on Wednesday. Shelter Scotland – a key housing charity north of the border – has urged ministers to ensure every penny provided to the Scottish Government as a result of the boost goes towards affordable homes. 'The UK Government has finally recognised the importance of social housing and placed it at the heart of the Chancellor's plans,' the charity's director, Alison Watson, said. 'If additional funding is made available, only the Scottish Government can decide how it is allocated. But if the First Minister is serious about tackling the housing emergency and ending child poverty, housing must be a priority. 'We demand that any consequentials arising from this investment in housing in England are passed directly to Scotland's affordable housing supply programme. 'This is already the case with NHS spending – housing should be no different. After all, home is everything. 'We know that building more social homes is the only way to tackle the housing emergency. 'It is the only way we can move the 10,360 children currently in temporary accommodation into secure, permanent homes.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'As part of his reshuffle, the First Minister has put tackling the housing emergency at the heart of his Cabinet by appointing Mairi McAllan as Cabinet Secretary for Housing. 'This financial year, we have increased the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget by £200 million to £768 million, including £40m targeted towards acquisitions to support the local authorities with the most sustained homelessness and temporary accommodation pressures. 'The full implications of the UK spending review, which outlined spending on housing in the next 10 years, are still being considered.'
