A new housing plan is bidding to support the delivery of over 2,800 affordable homes for rent over the next 10 years.
The council’s executive has approved a new Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for 2023 to 2024 to 2027 to 2028 to deliver more affordable homes for rent in West Lothian.
The SHIP is the strategic bidding document for investing in affordable housing for rent for West Lothian, which the council then submits to the Scottish Government for grant funding.
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The approved SHIP includes proposals for up to 2,811 new homes on a wide range of sites, which then informs the affordable housing programme.
These include potential sites for up to 508 new council homes with 1,965 new homes from Registered Social Landlord (RSL) partners, as well as new sites yet to be allocated for development. The council also expects to buy 50 houses on the open market, with RSL partners aiming to purchase a further 15.
In her report to the executive Marjory Mackie, housing strategy and development manager, said: “RSL partners have identified a number of development opportunities for the provision of additional affordable homes and the council also has a programme of new build council housing, with work under way on the development of a future affordable housing programme, the scale of which will be dependent on the outcome of the rent consultation and available funding from Scottish Government.”
SNP depute group leader Councillor Robert De Bold questioned the progress of existing building programmes. He said: “ If the council has built 2,400 homes in a 10 year period, with some still under construction, that works out 240 per year. I applaud that we are building council homes but 240 per year lacks ambition and goes nowhere near solving the housing crisis.
“Building 240 council houses per year doesn’t solve the problem.”
Councillor George Paul, executive councillor for housing services replied: "When the SNP was in power the total build was 10 houses in Blackburn.”
In the last 10 years, the council, and Registered Social Landlord (RSL) partners have delivered over 3,000 additional affordable homes for rent across West Lothian.
Councillor Paul said: “I’m delighted that West Lothian continues to be one of the leading areas in Scotland for delivering new affordable homes for rent.
“The West Lothian SHIP for the next five years will see the council and our RSL partners pushing as far as we can to deliver the maximum number of homes that our financial resources allow.
“We appreciate that demand for these new homes outstrips what we are able to deliver, but we hope to help as many local families as possible.”
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