Appeal made to private sector on how to deliver more affordable housing

THE private house-building sector is being asked by Edinburgh’s local authority for ideas on how the city might hit its ‘affordable housing’ target.

Begins a notice on a website inviting applications for public sector contracts: “The City of Edinburgh Council has a commitment to deliver a programme to build at least 10,000 affordable homes by 2022 with a plan to build 20,000 by 2027.

“The council is aiming to deliver 10,000 of the 20,000 commitment, increasing the provision of both social rent and mid-market rent homes across the city in partnership with Edinburgh Living.

“Edinburgh Living is the council’s mid-market rent housing vehicle, a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) with Scottish Futures Trust (SFT).”

The appeal envisages housing developments on land not currently owned by the local authority.

The announcement – here, on Public Contracts Scotland – continues: “The council has made significant progress towards the commitment and has successfully delivered homes for both social rent and mid-market rent across a number of sites in the city already.

“The future pipeline is strong with around 2,000 homes at various stages of planning, design and construction including, but not limited to, Powderhall, Fountainbridge, Meadowbank and Granton Waterfront.

“The council has also successfully engaged with the private sector on larger sites to develop sustainable communities on a mixed tenure approach, including homes for sale.”

And the appeal is explained, here: “As a key deliverable to support the council’s affordable homes commitment, this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is being published to provide the market an opportunity to present proposals to the council to support the acceleration of the council-led programme and to engage with private sector partners to bring forward land which is not owned by the council.”