COUNCIL STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN EXCEEDS TARGETS
Written by author on November 19, 2015
COUNCILLORS will hear next week of plans establish a new fund of £500k to support the additional costs of barrier-free/ lifetime homes.
Details will be given at the meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council Housing Sub Committee (19th November), Members will hear an update report on the 2016/17 – 2020/21 Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP,) which will identify future priority projects.
It will include homes which will have particular needs adaptations designed into them at the development stages, to prevent the need for retro-fit solutions after the homes have been let to tenants.
The updated SHIP projects will deliver over 840 new homes from next year until 2021.These projects continue to exceed the original target set out in the Council’s Single Outcome Agreement, which was to deliver on average 120 new affordable homes per year. There will be 6 additions to the SHIP project for 2016/17, over and above those already agreed. These 6 projects will include a total of 131 new homes stretching across the region from Annan to Stranraer
In addition to the above projects, but not currently included in the updated SHIP, there are some initial outline proposals from a private developer seeking the Council’s support under the Scottish Government’s Partnership Support for Regeneration. This is a new fund introduced in September 2015 to assist private developers and promote tenure diversification: that is, broader, more balanced communities through a variety of housing options. This will be discussed further at a future committee.
Councillor Craig Peacock, chairman of the Housing Sub Committee said: “I am delighted to hear that the SHIP project continues to exceed, not only our original target, but also our early expectations. Through the Council’s investment in not only affordable housing, but housing which meets the needs of people within our communities, we are continuing our commitment to provide vulnerable people with the accommodation they need to live independent lives in their own homes for as long as possible.
“One of the biggest challenges facing the Housing sector going forward is how we work with NHS and Social Work Services to deliver new housing solutions that allow people to stay in their home as long as possible without the need to be admitted to hospital or residential care. The creation of a fund to help our Registered Social Landlord partners develop innovative solutions is a key part of our development programme into the future. This will provide a degree of financial flexibility to allow new design solutions to be tested that will help bridge the gap between housing, care and health services. We are one of the first Council’s in Scotland to embrace this significant change and we hope this will have a positive impact on the daily lives of many ordinary people.
The Strategic Housing Investment Plan is also looking to maximise development opportunities to provide houses that are capable of meeting the challenge of our regions increasingly aging population. Where new sheltered housing schemes are being considered we are working closely with our Registered Social Landlord, NHS and Social Work partners to consider what additional services can be provided that are focused on the needs of people as they get older. Housing is not simply about bricks and mortar, increasingly we need to consider more carefully the wider needs of our local population and adapt to those circumstances”
