Scots accelerate affordable housing
- Published: 20 August 2008 09:03
- Author: David Blackman
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 20 August 2008 09:03
Alex Salmond has announced £100m plans to accelerate affordable housing delivery as part of a wide-ranging package to help Scotland's economy.
The Scottish First Minister announced in a speech at the Edinburgh Festival of Politics that the £100m of affordable housing investment would be spent this year and next, rather than in 2010-11 as originally planned.
Some £60m will be committed from national government programmes and, in line with the Scottish central-local Concordat, Holyrood is discussing with local government how a further £40m will be earmarked.
The money is being provided from the Scottish Affordable Housing Investment Programme, which funds registered social landlords' development.
In addition, the government has decided to postpone the review of the system of developer contributions in Scotland, in order to avoid placing new burdens on development. Mr Salmond also announced moves to bulk purchase electricity across the public sector and bring forward investment through the European Union's Structural Funds.
Chartered Institute of Housing director Alan Ferguson welcomed Mr Salmond's announcement.
He said: "The CIH and others in the housng sector have urged the Scottish Government to look at taking advantage of opportunities in the credit crunch to deliver more affordable housing.
"This is important at a time when demand for affordable housing options is likely to increase as the credit crunch increasingly hits consumers and mortgage lending."
