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Housing 'vital to Glasgow's success'
08/02/2008
A varied supply of affordable housing is vital to ensure the successful development and regeneration of Glasgow and Clyde Valley, a special seminar was told today.
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell explained to housing and planning power brokers the importance the Scottish Government places on delivering suitable housing supply, of all types, in and around the city.
He also encouraged delegates to raise their housing concerns with the Scottish Housing Supply Task Force so it can work to tackle the issues hampering the provision of more homes to the Greater Glasgow area.
In a bid to gather views in housing hotspots, HSTF seminars have taken place in Aviemore (concentrating on rural issues) and Edinburgh (looking at the Lothians). The next seminar will take place in Dumfries in March, before the task force presents a statement on its findings in spring.
Mr Maxwell said:
"The Scottish government wants to see an increase in the number of homes that are being built across all sectors.
"This seminar aims to identify the concerns and issues, unique to the Glasgow and Clyde Valley areas that are hampering the supply of affordable housing across all tenures.
"We have set a national goal of increasing supply to 35,000 each year, by the middle of the next decade. This ambition is a major challenge, not just for the government but for local authorities, housing providers and the construction industry.
"The Task Force contains the main power brokers; representatives of organisations that I believe will help resolve the problems that get in the way of adequate housing delivery in Scotland."
Higher demand for housing is not being matched by adequate supply. Average house prices rose by 72 per cent between 2002 and 2006, but only 2 per cent more homes were built in 2006 than in 2002.
The Housing Supply Task Force membership is:
- 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 (Homes for Scotland)
- Kennedy Foster (Council of Mortgage Lenders)
- Archie Stoddart (Shelter)
- Brian Gegan (Scottish Federation of Housing Associations)