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Housing Supply Task Force
23/10/2007
The Housing Supply Task Force, established by the Scottish Government to increase housing supply, examined pressures in the Lothians at its second meeting today.
Chaired by Communities and Sport Minister, Stewart Maxwell, the Task Force heard how planning authorities in the Lothians intend to meet demand for housing in their areas and the difficulties that need to be overcome. House-builders also set out the challenges that they face in providing a sufficient supply of homes to meet future housing need.
Speaking in Edinburgh today, Mr Maxwell said:
"At this meeting we established a clear picture of where the housing pressures are most acute in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The Task Force now has to ensure that solutions are found in response to those pressures.
"There is undoubtedly a shortage of housing of all types across the Edinburgh area and I want to see more done to speed up the construction of homes in the Lothians.
"I also expect to see those with the responsibility for delivering new homes in this area to provide reassurances that all the stops really are being pulled out to provide much-needed new housing for individuals and families."
The intention to establish a Housing Supply Task Force was announced in Parliament by Stewart Maxwell on June 21 this year. The objective of the Task Force is to tackle the obstacles, such as land supply and planning issues, that have been hampering the delivery of more housing.
Today's meeting involved members of the Edinburgh & Lothians Structure Plan Joint Liaison Committee and gave Task Force members an opportunity to discuss planned house-building activity in the area. The Task Force will be engaging with a number of other organisations involved with housing supply in the Lothians to canvass views on the issues and the potential priorities for action. The full Task Force will consider the Lothian issues again at a future meeting. The next meeting in November will examine housing supply issues in rural Scotland.
The Housing Supply Task Force membership is as follows:
- Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport
- Councillor Harry McGuigan (CoSLA Housing Portfolio)
- Councillor Alison Hay (CoSLA Planning Portfolio)
- Ronnie Jacobs (Chair, Homes for Scotland)
- Jonathan Fair (Chief Executive, Homes for Scotland - replacing Bruce Black who retired at the beginning of October)
- Kennedy Foster (Council of Mortgage Lenders)
- Archie Stoddart (Shelter)
- Brian Gegan (Scottish Federation of Housing Associations)