17 November 2006
A package of measures to free up more land for affordable housing in Scotland has been announced by Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm.
The measures include an extra £48m in capital funding and a review of the planning system to look at new ways of increasing the provision of land for housing in development plans.
The extra funding comes on top of the £439m that has already been provided for the Executive's affordable housing programme in the current financial year.
Chisholm said the review would consider the use of 'longer time horizons' for the identification of effective land supply, and whether it should be easier for ministers to intervene in development plans. More investment was also needed, he said. 'The additional £48m will speed up projects already under way and extend local land bank schemes so that building can go ahead next year.'
Jacqui Watt, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: 'The shortage of affordable housing in Scotland is so acute that any announcement of progress is to be welcomed.'
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