They've put cash up, now SNP must build on housing plans

Foundations have been laid, but more work's needed, says Kate Dewar

AT the SNP's recent spring conference, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled a £25 million package of funding to encourage the building of new council houses across Scotland. With local authorities currently receiving no subsidy for building council houses, the Government's strategy is that an incentive be offered to local authorities to start house-building programmes, with those who do so in line for a share of the package over three years.

The proposed strategy is one that is likely to see hundreds of council homes built each year across the country.

While this incentive package may go some way towards addressing the shortage of housing, the challenge is indeed considerable, with the Scottish Government targeting the building of 35,000 new homes each year from 2015.

Recognition and inclusion of housing associations and private developers, along with councils, as providers of new housing heralds a much welcomed three-pronged attack on the housing shortage.

Combined with this is the proposed removal of right-to-buy for new-build social houses, which will act as an incentive for councils and non-charitable housing associations in terms of retaining the long-term availability of social rented housing. There will indeed be challenges ahead for the Government to ensure the housing programme is delivered, and this will require the planning and water authorities and the housing provider to work closely together.

The new Planning Act, with its emphasis on pre-application consultation for certain types of development, will need some time to bed in, but ultimately could ensure the delivery of a streamlined planning system, a key aim of which is to provide well-located, high quality new housing.

And a more pro-development agenda from the Government down, tackling unnecessary delays and ensuring local authorities can supply an adequate level of land for housing, is vital to ensure new homes becomes a reality.

According to the Construction Skills Network, Scotland requires 6320 new construction recruits each year until 2012 to meet projected demand. High levels of training and recruitment need to be encouraged and maintained, and employment opportunities need to be sustainable. Glasgow's policy to ensure all school-leavers are offered an apprenticeship from next year is to be applauded.

The package of measures has the potential to address Scotland's shortage of housing supply and usher in a new generation of house building. What will be required is for all parties to work together in order to ensure we lay the foundations of our housing future.

• Kate Dewar, partner and head of Social Housing Scotland, HBJ Gateley Wareing.