New generation of council houses in Scotland

Permalink: New generation of council houses in Scotland
by Kay Murchie

Scottish ministers have announced proposals to build a new generation of council houses and end the right of council housing tenants in Scotland to buy new-build homes.

Several local authorities have already been granted permission to suspend right to buy amid shortages.

Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister, said that the current rate of 25,000 new houses a year is ‘simply inadequate’. It can and must increase if Scotland’s housing requirements are to be met.

In a series of proposals outlined by ministers, Scotland’s local authorities, developers and builders have been challenged to increase new house building to at least 35,000 a year by 2015.

The Scottish National Party administration said it will assist first-time buyers onto the property ladder via shared equity schemes and government grants.

Ministers will also proceed with the controversial single survey plan for house sales, which they said would save first-time buyers at least £200, in spite of its low take-up during its trial period under the Labour/Lib Dem administration.

Mary Scanlon, conservative’s health and wellbeing spokesperson questioned how the government would guarantee that the country’s £2 billion of council housing debt did not increase. She said nearly half a million Scottish families achieved an ambition of property ownership through the right to buy the homes they lived in.

She asked why are future generations being deprived of this option, particularly as there is no evidence that scrapping the right-to-buy frees up more affordable housing.

Shelter Scotland, the housing charity, welcomed the changes but is pushing for social rented housing to be a priority in the future. Shelter’s director, Archie Stoddart, said these 35,000 homes a year will include all housing, from million pound mansions to maisonettes, or homes to buy or rent.

Mr Stoddart added that this must include 10,000 affordable homes for rent so people across Scotland get a real choice about having a decent and affordable place to live.

Mr Stoddart commented on the end of right-to-buy and said that the scheme had benefited many people across Scotland over the years but it is now time to acknowledge that there has been a cost to people stuck in the queue for housing.