Articles by McGrigors
2005
Affordable Housing - the Scottish Dimension
(Published BURA Handbook)
The particular challenges that face the provision of Affordable
housing in Scotland are those of scale. In England and Wales the scale
of the problem and the scale of appropriate solutions are substantial.
In Scotland the problem is proportionately as large but numerically not
so substantial and may not be so attractive to those seeking to deliver
solutions. The potential returns are of greater scale south of the border.
This interpretation deserves to be viewed in the other direction. With
smaller sites Scotland can deliver results more quickly. With a more compact
business community with better communications and more compact networks
solutions can be arrived and at built out more rapidly. The provision
of affordable housing can more quickly have an impact on the Scottish
economy and the Scottish economy is by all accounts in need of material
provision of affordable housing particular in the economic heartland of
the East of Scotland.
The mismatch of supply and demand is as great here as in England and Wales.
Key workers are in as difficult a situation financially in our major cities.
In addition, in the areas where housing is most unaffordable there is
an increasing requirement for housing to be available in greater numbers
to match the changing demographics and lifestyle choices. Edinburgh alone
has been highlighting since 2002 the 3,000 "latent households"
which are relatively blocked in the City from home ownership or their
own front door of any sort because of house pricing.
The Scottish Executive has proposals that mirror those of England and
Wales with funding of £1.2 billion allocated over the next three
years. Shared ownership schemes are also being provided for with new and
innovative solutions being actively promoted. The planning system here
is due for a sweeping review which will have as its target part of the
solution for this problem. It still remains though for the market to respond
to this opportunity and start to deliver.
Scotland has the benefit of a number of regeneration sites where affordable
housing has been established through being a requirement of planning consents.
The sites are therefore identified, the ground is virtually clear. The
remaining challenge is to get the proposals resolved and to deliver places
of which Scotland can be proud in the future. There seems though to be
a blockage or shortage in number of those ready and willing to take up
the challenge and deliver the solutions. It is rather as if the Executive
is throwing its coins in the street after a wedding and finding no children
to scurry around excitedly to pick them up. This is not how it should
be and it is not what the Scottish Central belt market deserves. Real
delivery is being sought and encouraged and clear and material contributions
are there to be made. It would be good to see appropriate providers appear
and make that difference. Scotland is particularly well supplied with
high quality designers and architects many of whom have a background in
housing association work and in many cases this is allied to a substantially
developed social conscience. The result that seems to be within touching
distance is a supply of housing which answers the affordable call and
also creates special places of which all can be proud, not just those
who live there.
For further information please contact :
realestate@mcgrigors.com
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