‘Scottish Government falling well behind new affordable homes target in Highlands’

Regional MSP Ariane Burgess has called on the Scottish Government to speed up the building of affordable homes in the Highlands and Islands.

Her call comes after newly revealed statistics suggested it is falling behind on its targets.

According to the figures, just 933 affordable homes were completed in rural and island areas between 1 October 2023 and the end of June 2024.

Based on the Government’s target of delivering over 11,000 affordable homes in the region by 2032, it suggests this vital housing drive is roughly 20% behind target over the last 12 months.

Ms Burgess (Scottish Green) said: “It’s concerning that the Scottish Government is significantly behind target this year.

“It has been just over 12 months since it launched its Rural and Islands Housing Fund which was meant to speed up construction efforts.

“And yet, this scheme has led to the delivery of just 26 affordable homes out of the 933 completed in these areas since last October.

“We already know the Government is saying in private that it believes the overall affordable homes delivery target is ‘at risk’.

“But it must persist with its efforts to ensure the housing crisis faced by people in rural and islands areas is alleviated.”

Her call comes as the Scottish Greens MSP welcomed an announcement by the Planning Minister earlier this week.

In a speech to MSPs, Ivan McKee said the Government was pushing forward with plans to reform permitted development rights so that commercial property can more easily be converted into residential housing.

But Ariane Burgess said this would have to go hand-in-hand with the Planning Hub that was also announced by Mr Mckee.

She said: “I am keen that the Government also looks at the possibility of the hub providing empty homes support or works with the local authorities that need it to determine how to best fund empty homes officers.

“We know that three homes can be retrofitted for the price of one new-build so, to address the housing emergency urgently, we need to see Government resources and planning policy backing ambitious retrofit and renovation projects.

“As well as creating more affordable homes faster, this approach can address the blight of long-term empty properties, tackle the housing emergency and bring life and footfall back to our town centres.”

She pointed out this approach is already embedded in Argyll & Bute where Campbeltown, Dunoon and Oban have benefitted from the work of empty homes officers to bring voids above town centre retail spaces back into use as affordable homes.

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