Housing and Property Committee Members Approve Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan
Members at today’s (15 December 2021) Housing and Property Committee approved Highland Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan.
The plan sets out proposals for affordable housing investment between 2022-2027. Members also approved the planned investment programme to 2027, subject to further discussion by Area Committees.
Council Housing Strategies, and specifically their Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs), are the key statements of local housing development priorities which are used to guide funding. They assist the Government in targeting its Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP). SHIPs contribute to achieving better prioritisation and making best use of public resources at a time when these are particularly constrained.
The Council’s current Local Housing Strategy was approved in December 2017. The main objectives are:
- To increase the supply of housing in Highland so that we have enough homes in the right places to meet housing needs
- That people are supported to live independently for as long as possible in their own homes and communities
- To prevent and respond to homelessness and make sure people have the right help to let them make decisions on their housing options
- To improve the Quality and condition of the housing stock and minimise fuel poverty
The main purpose of The Highland Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) is to set out how investment in affordable housing will be directed over the five-year period 2022/23 to 2026/27, in order to achieve the priorities that have been identified in the Council’s Local Housing Strategy (LHS).
The Council’s SHIP will contribute to the national Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP), assisting in fulfilling the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver at least 50,000 new affordable homes during this Parliament, as well as to extend delivery beyond that period.
A Strategic Housing Investment Programme for 2021-26 was approved on 4 November 2020 by the Economy and Infrastructure Committee. It has been prepared on the basis that it will be possible to approve at least 500 units each year, of which 70% will be for affordable rent and 30% for intermediate affordable housing (e.g. low-cost home ownership or mid-market rent), in line with overall Scottish Government targets. Details of local programmes are being reported to Area Committees.
The number of tender approvals to date for 2021/22 is 247 and the number of completions is 237. It is anticipated that there will be a total of 500 tender approvals, 450 site starts and 800 completions by March 2022. The relatively high number of completions results from completions delayed due to the effects of Covid 19.
Chair of the Housing and Property Committee, Cllr Laurie Fraser, said: “Housing is crucial to the growth of Highland’s economy and the sustainability of its communities.
“There are large numbers of households across Highland experiencing ‘housing need’ whilst at the same time, there continues to be substantial pressure on Highland’s supply of affordable housing.”