Delivery of affordable homes across Scotland will be accelerated, as a result of bringing forward up to £100m of spending through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, First Minister Alex Salmond announced yesterday.

The First Minister is delivering the annual Donald Dewar Lecture at the Edinburgh Book Festival this evening, in which he will set out a package of Scottish Government actions to strengthen the Scottish economy.

In advance of the Lecture, Mr Salmond published a new housing policy document responding to the changing economic climate.

The announcement builds on the package of major housing system reforms announced by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in June, which included additional support for first time buyers, incentives for a new generation of council housing and increased protection for home owners.

The full programme Mr Salmond will detail in his lecture - to help Scotland meet the immediate economic challenges, promote growth and support business confidence - follows an urgent review by the Scottish Cabinet of the Government's policies and spending plans.

It includes: bringing forward up to £100m of affordable housing investment to be spent this year and next, rather than 2010-11 as originally planned. Some £60 million will be committed from national government programmes and, in line with the Concordat, a further £40m from local government will be discussed


New criteria for housing associations to purchase unsold stock or land to deliver houses where they are needed, at best cost to the public purse.

European Structural Funds: on top of the £180m already committed to spend from the 2007-13 Programmes, front load a high share of the remaining funds to support high-quality projects and provide a direct stimulus to the Scottish economy

• Planning: postpone the review of the system of developer contributions in Scotland, to avoid placing new burdens on development at this time.
• Tourism: new steps to ensure Scottish tourism reaps the full benefit of Homecoming 2009Energy: bulk purchasing of electricity to across the public sector to safeguard the public services; and make it easier for businesses to increase their energy efficiency through a range of government schemes.
• Financial services: bring together the key players - including the major mortgage lenders - to examine the scope for easing the supply of credit to households and businesses.
  
  

Speaking during a visit to a housing development in Pitlochry, First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The global economic downturn is affecting economies across the world, and clearly Scotland cannot be fully insulated from its effects.

"But there are two reasons why the economic outlook for Scotland is positive. First, the Scottish economy continues to show encouraging signs of resilience. Second, Scotland has a Government that, despite its limited economic powers, will take decisive action to strengthen our performance and prospects. We will not simply sit back and wait for conditions to get better.

"One of our highest priorities is taking action on housing in Scotland. That is why we have published the next steps for our housing policy, and why up to £100m capital spending will be brought forward to support these efforts and help us to meet demand for affordable housing.

"These actions will help more people across find new housing of the right kind, in the right numbers, in the right places. The new development on Castle Dubh Loan in Pitlochry is a great example of high quality, rented accommodation giving people homes to be proud of.

"As part of the full programme we are announcing to meet the immediate economic challenges, promote growth and support business confidence, this investment will help us to maintain Scotland's reputation as Europe's place of the future."

(GK/NS)