You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Scottish Government could struggle with 50,000 affordable homes target, experts warn
Housing experts have raised concerns the Scottish Government could struggle to meet its ambitious affordable housing target because of a shortage of skills and land.
But experts said there are “practical obstacles” that must be “overcome”.
Michael Williams, relationship manager at Procurement for Housing, said there is a risk that shortages of skilled labour, suitable land and finance may prevent the target being met.
He said: “I think it will struggle. The easy and most profitable sites for development have already been used up. Brexit is a problem as well. Lots of excellent workers have come in from Europe to carry out the work. If we are making it difficult for them to come here then we will lose that.”
READ MORE
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and Shelter Scotland have been working on joint research into the government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme. Rosemary Brotchie, policy and research manager at Shelter Scotland, said the organisations’ analysis is generally positive, although they do have concerns. “The practical obstacles like infrastructure capacity and availability of materials must be overcome,” she said.
She added: “A key question is whether what’s being built is what is needed. Are these homes of the right size and in the right tenure?”
The latest government figures show affordable completions were down by 12%, from 2,803 to 2,464, in the year to June 2017. However, affordable starts were up by 32% – from 4,714 to 6,234 in the same period.
Kevin Stewart, housing minister, said: “We are on track to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes over this parliament, and have seen almost 71,000 delivered since 2007. To secure and continue that progress requires the necessary investment, and more than £756 million will be made available in 2018-19 through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme – a 28% increase on this year.
“That is expected to support up to 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the construction and related sectors and we are working with partners to ensure the necessary skills are in place – not least as we consider the immense risk posed by Brexit to many of our workforces, including construction. A short-life working group, delivered in partnership with industry, will report mid-year on actions and recommendations to ensure the right skills are available for house building across Scotland.
“Our forthcoming Planning Bill will also support the delivery of the housing our communities need, in the right places and at the right time. Already, each local authority must prepare a Strategic Housing Investment Plan that sets out their five year plans for affordable housing, and planning authorities are required to provide a minimum of five years effective land at all times.”
