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Press and Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Press and Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Aberdeen council's 'urgent' Raac plea was left unanswered for weeks by Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan
A desperate plea on behalf of Raac-affected Torry families to the SNP's housing secretary went unanswered for almost six weeks, the Press and Journal can exclusively reveal. Through information obtained by Freedom of Information requests as part of our , we discovered that a letter sent from Aberdeen City Council to the newly appointed cabinet secretary on June 17 describes the Granite City's housing situation as a crisis. The correspondence occurred just days after the First Minister named Màiri McAllan as the replacement for previous housing minister, Paul McLennan. Here's the situation as we understand it. A letter, sent by email from SNP councillor Miranda Radley on June 17, requests an urgent meeting with Ms McAllan in Balnagask. Ms Radley said she wanted the opportunity so the Scottish Government could outline the support it can offer to the local authority, its tenants and private homeowners. She said many, 'through no fault of their own, find themselves in unsafe conditions.' Ms Radley, convener of the communities, housing and public protection committee, also noted the tenuous position the city council is in regarding its buyback scheme. She said only 10% of the 138 privately owned properties have been sold back to the council, conceding that 'there are signs that they are unlikely to commit to any option they [the homeowners] have to financially contribute towards.' A day after Aberdeen's urgent call for Scottish Government support, Ms McAllan spoke on the Holyrood floor. She responded to North-east Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr, who called for an unused and all but inaccessible pot of £20m Scottish Government housing cash to be made available to help victims of Raac. Aberdeen City Council also requested that the Scottish Government consider reclassifying this Housing Infrastructure Fund cash, after numerous applications by Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Councils failed to access the money for other housing bids. 'For the government's part,' she added, 'my officials have received and are considering Aberdeen City Council's request for the Housing Infrastructure Fund to be repurposed to allow the local authority to support Raac efforts. 'I am getting advice on that currently and ministers will make a decision on that proposal in due course.' At the time, her response offered a lifeline of hope to Raac homeowners in Aberdeen facing financial ruin, especially when she added she would be 'glad to meet' with Torry residents. That same day, June 18, Ms McAllan penned a letter to Angela Rayner, UK Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing. In that letter, she asked the UK Government to take the lead on putting in place financial arrangements, on a cross-UK basis, to support programmes of remediation. Ms McAllan said she 'stands ready' to work with the UK Government on such a scheme and would be grateful if she could meet with Ms Rayner in 'early course'. More than a month on, we wondered what progress has been made regarding Raac, and the reclassification of the £20m Housing Infrastructure Fund. We sent an email on the morning of July 22 asking Ms McAllan if a decision had yet been made on the £20m, and if and when she will visit Balnagask. That evening, we received the following response. She said: 'I recognise the difficulty and stress being experienced by those affected by RAAC and that is why I am committed to engaging with the UK Government, local authorities and campaign groups to progress solutions.' Adding that she's recently met with Dundee Council and had offered a date to meet with Dundee families next month, she said she'd do the same for those in Aberdeen. Ms McAllan continued: 'The Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to make available a dedicated RAAC remediation fund, but they have failed to do so. I made this call in my letter to the deputy prime minister in June. I am deeply disappointed in her response.' Her response to The Press and Journal also included that she 'expects all social landlords to be engaging with their tenants and developing plans to remediate RAAC in their homes. The Scottish Government remains closely engaged in this work.' With no mention of the £20m in the cabinet secretary's response, we were keen to find out the specific progress of the fund's reclassification – or indeed why there seems to have been a hold up. We asked for clarification. We were informed that the complexity of the situation required additional information which Aberdeen City Council has been asked to send to the cabinet secretary. This information is yet to be received by the Scottish Government. However, for clarity, we checked when the Scottish Government asked Aberdeen City Council for this additional information. A request was sent from the Scottish Government on July 22, around two hours after The Press and Journal requested a progress update on the fund reclassification. The Torry Community Raac Campaign group said they aren't surprised by the lack of urgency towards Aberdeen's Raac-affected families. A spokesperson said: 'We're deeply disappointed by the lack of urgency in the cabinet secretary coming to meet with us, but unfortunately, not surprised. 'Her comments in Holyrood last month gave Balnagask residents a glimmer of hope after months of being ignored. 'Her predecessor at least came to see the situation firsthand but ultimately did nothing. The same playbook is being followed: delay, deflect, and deny responsibility. 'Why the endless procrastination? Why ask Aberdeen City Council for more information only after media pressure? It feels like yet another cynical attempt by the minister to kick the can down the road while lives remain in limbo. 'We are tired of warm words in parliament and cold inaction in practice. The time for talking is over. We need a housing secretary willing to act — and act now.' An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government is exploring how it might support Aberdeen City Council and we are continuing to respond to a variety of questions from civil servants as and when they arise.' Audrey Nicoll, MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, told us she had also recently corresponded with her SNP colleague, the cabinet secretary, on RAAC. Adding, 'like others, I am keen that this issue can be resolved in as timely a manner as possible.' North-east Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said he was previously 'heartened' when Ms McAllan offered 'a ray of hope for the people of Balnagask' regarding the promise to look at the reclassification of funds. He added: 'But this isn't some tissue-thin commitment which can be forgotten about, until the media ask. It is a government minister's word, on the official record of the Scottish Parliament, in black and white. 'At the beginning of the parliamentary term, I will request a statement from Ms McAllan, outlining what she has actually done for Torry RAAC victims.' Since publication, we were made aware that on July 28th, an hour before we published our original article on The Press and Journal website, a reply to Ms Radley's email was sent by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Ms McAllan. The response, almost six weeks on from Aberdeen's urgent Raac plea on June 17, offers some hope to Balnagask's Raac homeowners in that she said the request to 'repurpose monies' is under 'urgent consideration.' However, there was no response to Ms Radley's invitation to visit Aberdeen's Raac residents as a matter of urgency. Full letter here:
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Winnipeg councillors begin hearing on fourplexes, four-storeys zoning changes
Winnipeg councillors began a multi-day hearing on new zoning rules on Monday that would allow up to four units on residential lots across the city. The proposed changes would also allow construction fourplexes up to four storeys high within 800 metres of frequent transit routes. These projects would be permitted without the need for a public hearing, as long as they meet design standards like lot coverage and setbacks. Dozens of people registered to speak at the hearing, roughly evenly split between those in support and those in opposition. The hearing is expected to last multiple days, beginning with supporters like Michael Hems. "I believe that we need to just allow our housing stock to grow in a way that curbs urban sprawl, because to many Winnipeggers out there, they understand our infrastructure is crumbling," he said. Councillors agreed to make the changes to get more than $122 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. Critics say the plan will take away the right of people to have a say on developments. Others argue that the changes will not lead to a significant increase in housing construction, because other factors such as the cost of materials and labour shortages hamper the industry. St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes says city staff have addressed some of his concerns, but not all of them. He and River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow won a vote earlier this year, rescheduling the hearing from March until June, to allow more time for public consultation. "That created, I think, a kind of a spirit of compromise," Mayes told reporters on Monday. "So, it's been respectful so far. We'll see. Tempers will rise at some point, probably mine included. But you know, so far so good, I think." Mayes says he still worries the minimum lot size for fourplexes with no back lane is too small. Mayor Scott Gillingham says the federal government has mandated the changes, and the city needs money for housing. "We have talked publicly and consistently about the fact that I think as of six months ago, the vacancy rate in Manitoba was below two per cent," he said. "It's very difficult to find housing in Winnipeg right now." Gillingham says other federal funding programs like the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund and the Canada Public Transit Fund also make zoning changes a requirement. In total, he says more than $450 million in federal money depends on the city following through on its rezoning commitment. To qualify for the full funding, Winnipeg must issue building permits for 14,000 units by next year. Councillors are expected to vote on the zoning changes later this week, after all delegates have spoken.
Press and Journal
01-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Could £20 million pot of cash help Torry Raac residents out of a financial black hole?
A £20 million rescue deal for Torry residents living with legacy of crumbling concrete housing is being brought to a crunch meeting between campaigners and the SNP's housing minister. The potentially dangerous Raac material was discovered in 500 council and private homes in the Balnagask area last year. Aberdeen City Council plans to demolish the affected properties by 2028 – despite an ongoing wrangle where some owners are refusing to sell. Housing Minister Paul McLennan will finally meet campaigners in Torry on Friday for the first time since the crisis came to light. They are fighting for fair compensation for their homes as they currently face losses of between £35,000 and £55,000 on average for the sale of their property. The meeting will also be attended by North East Tory MSP Liam Kerr and local SNP MSP Audrey Nicoll. At the meeting, Mr Kerr will suggest a rescue deal paid for by an unspent £20 million housing fund set up by the Scottish Government in 2016. The fund formed part of additional infrastructure investment to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils as part of the City Region Deal signed that year. No Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire project has qualified under the Housing Infrastructure Fund criteria to date in the last nine years. Mr Kerr said: 'There is a £20m which has yet to be touched because nothing in the north-east has qualified under this criteria. 'There is still a year to go for the City Deal, and I don't see any other way, or crucially any better way, in which this can be spent. 'That money would top up the existing council offer to market value and go towards demolition, rebuilding and redeveloping the area which would otherwise be too expensive to do.' However, Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard said it is for the UK Government to stump up the cash through a nationwide fund. He said: 'I would suggest to Mr Kerr that we do not use funding that has already been earmarked for Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council. 'We want a UK-wide Raac fund to be created by the UK Government to provide financial assistance to those affected, and this needs to happen urgently.' But the UK Government has no plans for a UK-wide response, claiming funds to managing Raac is for devolved administrations – such as Holyrood – and relevant local authorities. The P&J last week launched its campaign to support Aberdeen homeowners Trapped by Raac. It builds on our continuing work to highlight the plight of ordinary people facing ruin through no fault of their own. The Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) enables funding for housing developments that have stalled or can't proceed due to the excessive cost or nature of the infrastructure works to be delivered. But loan funding was paused in 2021 due to budgetary constraints. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'The purpose of this funding is for works to overcome infrastructure challenges to enable new affordable housing projects to go ahead. Funding allocation is dependent on proposals coming forward from the local authorities. 'Scottish Government housing officials have provided regular advice and guidance to both Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. 'To date, no proposals which meet Housing Infrastructure Fund criteria have been forthcoming form either local authority. 'We continue to urge the UK Government to make additional funding available but to date they have refused to do so.'
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Aylesbury housing and roads on voters' minds for local elections 2025
Buckinghamshire is preparing for its second set of elections for its unitary authority, with people living in the county able to elect 97 councillors on 1 is a county that has seen plenty of political change in the last few years, as it now has Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs, when previously is was solidly second-largest town Aylesbury has seen a number of housing and road developments this decade, including at Kingsbrook, where about 2,500 homes have been built in three distinct villages on the BBC visited one of them, the Canal Quarter, to see what people make of the place. Joao Si and Dora Simoes moved to Aylesbury from Luton seven months ago and are starting a said "everybody wants to move here because of the grammar school", but had also heard "great things about the primary and secondary school" on the Kingsbrook can I vote for in the May local elections?Local elections 2025: Who is standing in my area?Mr Si said "things were very packed" in Luton, but now they have moved they felt "like they are in a city, but have fields around and it is very child-friendly".However, the couple said they had to register with a GP in Tring in neighbouring Hertfordshire because their nearest surgery "had not included the estate in its catchment area". This news came to them despite there being "a GP surgery next to a supermarket in the village", Mr Si added that Aylesbury's roads were "not ideal", so the couple tended to commute to work in London early in the morning, as "travel between 08:00 and 09:00 or after 15:00... is a bit of a nightmare". Sharon Anderson works in education, and regularly visits the gym on the estate and its coffee shop to catch up with said the development was "beautiful" and "looks really clear and the people are really nice".While some new estates lack facilities, Ms Anderson said the Canal Quarter was great it had a supermarket and bakery. However, when it came to travelling into the centre of Aylesbury, she was less happy, calling the roads "quite complicated" and the potholes "ghastly".She said in the morning "you cannot get from point A to B" and that "there needed to be a lot more done about the roads" which she said can be "quite chaotic, particularly during rush times".She added that the cost of parking in Aylesbury meant it was "more alluring to go to Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, where the shopping areas were free to park at". Buckinghamshire Council's Housing Infrastructure Fund will eventually facilitate over 10,000 new homes in the Vale of Aylesbury areaThat includes around 2,500 in Kingsbrook, but also 3,000 at Hampden Fields, 1,100 at Woodlands and the remainder built on large sites around AylesburyIt has also helped fund Kingsbrook's secondary and primary schoolsAylesbury has an ambition to have a series of link roads going around the town and three new roads have already been built, as part of the housing developments and also to help ease congestionA link road around the south-east of Aylesbury is also being delivered by Buckinghamshire CouncilA Stoke Mandeville relief road, is being built as part of the HS2 rail scheme, and Taylor Wimpey is building a link road as part of the Hampden Fields schemeBuckinghamshire Council also has "aspirational" plans for link roads to the west and north of Aylesbury to provide "missing" links in the road networkThe government awarded the council £172m for these and other projects in 2020, which overall will cost at least £244m, with the rest of the money coming from HS2, the Department for Transport and the UK Power NetworksBuckinghamshire Council covers the whole of the county, except Milton Keynes. Elections, and elections for the new unitary authority were first held in 2021, a year after it replaced the county and district council set-up. The Conservatives had a landslide - winning 113 out of 147 seatsThe number of seats at the council has been reduced to 97 and all are up for grabs Fay Bird moved to Aylesbury more than 40 years ago, but said "it had completely changed and become a whole new world".She now lives near Waddesdon in the north of the county, but visited the Kingsbrook estate once a week to look after her described it as "the kind of place she would consider moving to" when she has to retire, and had "watched the shops come and the Tesco and the coffee shops" being built there as she was in favour of development in general, she added that "with all the new roads coming in on all the new estates" the traffic had been "in turmoil for such a long time".She moved four years ago, but said she "still does not know which road to take to get into Aylesbury", so said she avoided it quite a lot so that she did not get "stuck in a traffic jam or a diversion". Dez Kay lives on the nearby Bedgrove Estate and said he remembered driving and walking through Kingsbrook "when it was just fields" but called it "like a new town" and a "great addition".He said the huge developments in Hampden Fields had "taken up a lot of what used to be farmland " which had added to levels of traffic on the Wendover Road out of the said: "We all know when you mention Aylesbury that you think of the road situation."Having lived here for many years, trying to drive from one side of town to another is dreadful."Although several roads were being built to try to ease congestion, Mr Kay said those had been "spoken about for many years" but he hoped these new roads were "going to be enough".He said parking charges in Aylesbury were "a bit of a wind up when you go out in the evening"."If you are using the theatre or the cinema, parking charges are still there until eight or nine o'clock at night [yet there were] other towns where you do not have to do that," he said. 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CBC
03-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Province receives more than $150M for water-related upgrades
Municipalities across New Brunswick now have new access to federal funding to help pay for water-related upgrades. The province announced Monday it's receiving $150.5 million from signing a 10-year agreement with the federal government under the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. This money will be used to build or upgrade storm water, wastewater, drinking water and solid-waste related infrastructure, which could in turn allow for more housing. Municipalities can apply for access to this funding to allow them to make improvements in their communities. "We already have our application in," said Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold. "I do think that a factor that needs to be considered is the return on the investment as well, and we will be able to deliver the homes that are needed. So I'm hoping that that will be considered," she said. Arnold cited local projects, such as the Vision Lands development, improvements to St. George Street, and a conduit out of the Champlain School area over to Harrisville, that could all benefit from this money. "We have a whole, you know, urban plan, we have our housing strategy, so we know specifically how many units we could build once we have these investments of infrastructure. "I think it does set us up very well for success in applying for this money," she said. Salisbury Mayor Rob Campbell, who also attended this announcement, said the funds could help his town plan long-term housing projects, as it provides an opportunity to replace the current well system with a municipal water system. "We have the ability to build hundreds and hundreds of houses, right now water is the barrier." He said this opens new opportunities for rural communities, and his town is already working on an application. WATCH | 'We need to make sure that we're buying New Brunswick,' housing minister says: New Brunswick doubles down on housing goals, despite looming tariffs 1 hour ago Duration 2:02 The threat of U.S. tariffs had cast uncertainty over nearly every sector, including housing. But New Brunswick has some lofty goals when it comes to new construction, with Premier Susan Holt campaigning on a promise of 30,000 new homes in the province by 2030. A well system requires more land to build but if the community succeeds in getting a water system it could help increase housing density as well as bring down building costs. "It would be something that we definitely want to explore," he said. Along with the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, the province also announced five other projects that received more than $50 million from all three levels of government for wastewater and water-related infrastructure under a different program.
