Housing Discussion Report Published

Strathaven based MSP Linda Fabiani, is highlighting the publication of a report on the  responses to the Scottish Government’s housing discussion paper, Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland.

The report provides a summary and analysis of the 387 responses that members of the public and housing industry submitted following Firm Foundations’ publication in October 2007.

Welcoming the report Ms Fabiani said:
“With South Lanarkshire Council just announcing its intention to build social housing on the site of the old Greenhills Primary school the publication of this report is timely. The Firm Foundations report detailed proposals to improve supply, quality and choice in Scotland’s housing - a criteria that I think most people in East Kilbride would agree on.

“The Scottish Government is grateful to everyone who took part in this discussion and delighted at receiving contributions from a large and diverse group of people and organisations.

“Over the coming weeks we will discuss responses with CoSLA and other stakeholders. Following these discussions, the Scottish Government will announce the direction of its policies for meeting Scotland’s housing needs in June.”

END
NOTES:
On October 31, 2007, the Scottish Government published its discussion document Firm Foundations: the future of housing in Scotland. This described the Government’s vision for an increased supply of housing across all tenures, all of which is delivered on the basis of higher environmental and design standards; more choice of housing that those on lower incomes can afford; housing developments that contribute to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities; and social housing that provides better value for public expenditure.

To achieve that vision, Firm Foundations proposed:

·       Setting a target to increase the rate of new housing supply to at least 35,000 houses a year by the middle of the next decade

·       Launching a Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative
·       Helping first time buyers through the creation of LIFT: the Government’s low cost initiative for first time buyers

·       Encouraging the private rented sector to flourish and play a full role in meeting housing need
·       Improving the choice available to homeless people
·       Offering local authorities financial incentives to build new council houses
·       Ending the right to buy on all new social housing
·       Using more efficient delivery to increase the supply of new housing association housing
·       Modernising the regulation of social housing

By the time the consultation period ended on January 25, the Government had received 387 responses from local authorities, tenant and community groups, housing associations and a range of other housing stakeholders and private individuals.

The Government appointed Tribal Communications to analyse and summarise the responses.