Target of 100,000 more ‘affordable’ homes announced
AN ambitious target to build a 100,000 affordable homes – in addition to those already delivered – has been announced by the Scottish Government.
Begins a Scottish Government media release (here): “Plans to deliver 100,000 affordable homes over the next decade are set out today in a 20-year housing strategy [to be published later this week, as detailed here].
“Recognising the importance of everyone having a safe and affordable home that meets their needs, ‘Housing to 2040’ – Scotland’s first long-term housing strategy – outlines what the Scottish Government wants housing and communities to look and feel like for the people of Scotland, with actions on how to get there.”
The media release details what it describes as ‘key priorities’:
- delivering 100,000 more affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70 per cent of these being for social rent. This target would support about £16 billion in total investment and up to 14,000 jobs a year;
- setting a single set of standards for housing quality and accessibility, no matter whether a home is owned or rented;
- tackling high rents in the private sector and supporting fair, accessible private and social rental sectors through a ‘Rented Sector Strategy and Housing Bill’;
- decarbonising heating in all homes in line with Scotland’s climate ambitions, ensuring this is done in a fair and just way, including by adapting and retrofitting existing homes;
- aiming for all new homes delivered by ‘registered social landlords’ [such as housing associations] and local authorities to be zero emissions by 2026;
- establishing a new fund to help local authorities bring empty homes back into residential use;
- supporting housing development in rural and island areas, helping to prevent depopulation and enabling communities to thrive;
- continuing with [an] updated plan to end homelessness and rough sleeping once and for all; and
- undertaking a comprehensive audit of our current housing and homelessness legislation to understand how best to realise the right to adequate housing.
Picture credit: PlaceDesignScotland