In order to add more impetuous to delivering more affordable housing, the Scottish government has announced a £35m increase to their council allocations.
This means that the total allocations for affordable housing will be brought to £568m, and this number is set to rise to £591m in 2019/20 and the £630m in 2020/21.
The announcement of new funding by Holyrood was met with joy from Cllr Elena Whitham – a COLSA Community spokesperson – who claimed that the financial certainty will make planning much easier.
“Councils and our partners locally are working hard to deliver significant increases in affordable houses across Scotland this year,” Whitham said.
“They recognise good quality affordable housing as the cornerstone of building strong and resilient communities.
“Good housing contributes to many outcomes local government is seeking to improve – ultimately creating a fairer and more equal society.
“The increase in funding for the affordable supply programme is welcomed. Also welcomed is the financial certainty up to 2020-21, which makes planning activity much easier.”
Housing minister Kevin Stewart also commented, and was pleased that the government are on track to deliver what they set out to achieve.
“Statistics show we have delivered almost 72,500 affordable homes since 2007, and we are on track to deliver at least 50,000 over this Parliament, backed by over £3bn,” Stewart said.
“That is the single biggest investment in, and delivery of, affordable housing since devolution and I am determined to see it benefit all parts of Scotland.
“We will work in partnership with councils and housing associations to deliver quality homes to meet local needs.”
