A new discussion paper has been revealed addressing the multiple barriers to housing delivery in Scotland as well as identifying solutions to increase supply.
The 'Delivering More Homes for Scotland: barriers and solutions' paper, published by Homes for Scotland (HfS), sets out in clear terms some often misunderstood issues, such as how home builders value potential development sites, how homes themselves are valued, the interaction between house prices and land prices and how a typical development is currently taxed (including the developer contributions used to capture some of the land value uplift to fund infrastructure).
The paper states: "The real barriers to the delivery of new homes are the lack of the following;
• Mortgage availability to those who could afford the repayments, due to the requirement for signi cant deposits
• Home builders, especially of a smaller scale
• Longer-term certainty of funding for social and mid-market rented accommodation
• An experienced workforce to supply the skills needed to deliver the homes
• Funding for associated infrastructure – roads, water systems, schools etc
• Support for new homes from some local authority staff, councillors and existing residents
• A planning system that embraces, and can quickly consent, buildable developments."
A number of solutions to these problems are posed by HfS, including meaningful support for small-scale home builders to increase industry capacity, the exploration of options for a new town-type model for large-scale housing delivery and ensuring that the planning system is collaborative, fully-resourced and able to deliver decisions quickly.
Chief Executive Nicola Barclay said there is too little information available to help those outside the industry better understand the challenges involved within the home building industry.
"It is our job to fill that information gap and show the positive role our industry plays in Scotland –significantly contributing to debate as well as to the country's social wellbeing and economic success," she said.
"Rather than just critiquing the ideas of others, we wanted to provide genuinely useful information that will support better informed policy-making. We want this paper to mark a huge step forward in public understanding of home building.
"Scotland's home builders are a positive part of our country's future. It is therefore vital that land reform, planning reform and all other changes that affect them are informed by them."
HFS Director of Planning, Tammy Swift-Adams, said: "There are real challenges on the horizon that could have serious unintended consequences for Scotland as a whole, not just our industry. Changes to planning appeal rights are an obvious example, but our members are also concerned that their ability to deliver more homes will be directly affected if land reform proposals are not brought forward in close discussion with those who are building homes now.
"HFS has been at the forefront of calls to make the planning system more collaborative. For Scotland to succeed, we need to deliver the homes its people need and aspire to live in. Everyone involved – from policy-makers to builders and communities – needs to consider what homes we want, where we want them and how they will be delivered.
"Our paper provides practical information that can be put to use by policy-makers and other opinion-shapers to make sure major reforms genuinely enable the delivery of more new homes by companies building now and new entrants to the market."
To view the 'Delivering More Homes for Scotland: barriers and solutions' paper, visit here.
(LM)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Construction News
31/05/2018
New Discussion Paper Outlining Barriers To Housing Delivery Published
Latest Construction News
26/11/2024
Scottish Water has unveiled its largest-ever procurement initiative, aiming to modernise the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure while safeguarding the environment. The program, named Delivery Vehicle 4, is valued between £5 billion and £9 billion and is set to run from 2027 to 2033, with ...
26/11/2024
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the refurbishment of Calton Square, an office building currently occupied by Baillie Gifford until the end of December 2025. Promoted by Ardstone Capital on behalf of Manova Partners, the project aims to ...
26/11/2024
First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, praised the progress being made on the construction of the new Perth High School during a visit on Friday, 22 November. He was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, alongside senior Perth and Kinross Councillors, ...
26/11/2024
A state-of-the-art playpark has officially opened at King George V Park in Bearsden, following the completion of a £100,000 refurbishment. Funded by a combination of East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) Capital Funding and the Scottish Government’s Renewing Scotland’s Play Parks initiative, the ...
26/11/2024
Fife Council has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute ideas and propose sites for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan, known as Fife's Place Plan. The council is calling on community councils, landowners, and developers to share ...
26/11/2024
The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council has announced she is to retire in February 2025. Monica Patterson who has been Chief Executive for almost five years, has spent most of her professional career working in local government. Prior to joining East Lothian Council in 2010, she was Head of ...
25/11/2024
West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Connect Modular have jointly submitted a planning application to Glasgow City Council for the development of 33 affordable homes in Cowlairs. This project aligns with the wider Cowlairs Park regeneration scheme and the city's ambitious housing ...
25/11/2024
Arc-Tech (Scotland) has successfully completed a £6m Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services package for the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art resort, which opened its doors earlier this month, features a range of amenities, including a wave pool, luxury lodges, and ...
25/11/2024
Scottish Water has successfully completed the construction of a groundbreaking hydro energy generation scheme at Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian. This innovative project, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, will harness the power of water to offset a significant portion of the ...
25/11/2024
Work is set to commence on a £6.5 million project to upgrade the Double Dykes Gypsy/Traveller site near Perth. The initiative aims to replace outdated chalets with modern, energy-efficient accommodation and implement significant site improvements. Perth & Kinross Council secured £3.9 million from ...