Scotland's most deprived areas are characterised by high concentrations of social and rented housing. These are also the areas which tend to be isolated and characterised by poorer quality housing, poorer educational outcomes, poorer health and risk of earlier mortality, unemployment and heightened fear of crime and antisocial behaviour.
The Scottish Government's housing and regeneration policies are focused on putting an end to these badly-connected, single-tenure, single-use housing estates. Instead it is encouraging new developments that properly consider their surroundings, the needs of their residents; which are sympathetic to the wider needs of the environment and so contribute to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities.
What is a mixed community?
A mixed community involves people of different ages, lifestyles and incomes sharing in the benefits of decent housing and an external environment capable of meeting their needs now and in the future.
A mixed community development promotes a well-integrated mix of land uses with well-designed homes of different types and tenures and is capable of supporting this range of household sizes, ages and incomes.
Learning Network
The Mixed and Sustainable Communities Learning Network is a cross-Government initiative that supports people involved in regeneration to improve the way in which mixed communities are created and managed. It gives practical advice to organisations and individuals working locally.