Tackling the housing emergency.
Housing Minister visited an affordable
housing development in East Lothian to highlight plans in the
draft Budget for next year to increase funding for the Affordable
Housing Supply Programme.
The investment could see the total budget for delivering
affordable homes rise to £768 million in 2025-26 – an increase of
more than £200 million compared to this year's published budget.
Other measures in the Scottish Government's draft Budget aimed at
tackling the housing emergency include:
- £4 million to support local authorities and frontline
services to prevent homelessness
- £2 million to transform empty properties into safe, warm,
affordable homes
In addition, £1 million for registered social landlords and third
sector partners will be available this year to fund work to help
sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness.
Speaking during his visit to the development in Haddington,
Housing Minister said:
“Investing in safe, warm and affordable homes is key to our top
priority to tackle child poverty.
“We already have a strong track record in affordable housing,
having supported the delivery of 133,000 affordable homes since
2007 – this includes our £2.9 million investment in the
development at Haddington. That's 45% more per head of the
population than in England and 70% more than in Wales.
“By increasing the affordable housing supply budget in 2025-26 by
more than £200 million, housing providers will be able to deliver
at least 8,000 properties for social and mid-market rent
and low-cost home ownership.”
Councillor Andy Forrest, East Lothian Council spokesperson for
Housing, said: “It was really useful to welcome the Minister to
Haddington this morning to discuss East Lothian's recently
announced Affordable Housing Crisis and to emphasise the need for
clarity as soon as possible on what our settlement will be so
that we can continue to sustain our hugely important future
housing programme. We welcome the announcement of more subsidy
funding for affordable housing and any additional revenue for
frontline services to help prevent homelessness.”
