Building Briefs - October 15th

• East Dunbartonshire Council launches housing investment consultation

To secure grant funding, all local authorities need to detail their plans for future housing provision in their Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) each year and to submit this to the Scottish Government.

The SHIP sets out how investment in affordable housing will be targeted over the five-year period 2021/22 to 2025/26, and outline how the council and its partners will deliver these priorities.

To ensure this year’s SHIP truly reflects housing need and demand in East Dunbartonshire, and sets out the best housing mix in suitable locations, the council is looking for residents’ views on the draft SHIP after it is launched on October 16.

Residents will be able to comment on the draft plan until October 30.

The draft SHIP and associated questionnaire are available on the council’s website here.

• Fife Council announces £3m plan to ease housing shortage

Fife Council has allocated £3 million to purchase vacant properties in an attempt to increase its housing stock and reduce homelessness across the region.

The local authority said it is confident of achieving its target of buying 100 homes across Fife by March 2021 and has earmarked a further £3m to purchase 50 homes and make that a reality.

At last week’s policy and coordination committee, councillors heard plans to purchase two through to five-bedroom properties that come on to the market.

With the council suffering an enduring lack of housing to meet demand across Fife, the funding will be used to buy the properties at an average cost of £100,000.

Each purchase will receive a £40,000 subsidy from the Scottish Government, with a maximum of £10,000 per property also available for modernisation.