Arrow left dark
Newsletter icon SUBSCRIBE
Article Tags:
fuel poverty
homelessness
south lanarkshire council

New strategy continues South Lanarkshire Council’s commitment to new homes

Clock icon Reading time: 4 minutes
Article Tags:
fuel poverty
homelessness
south lanarkshire council

South Lanarkshire homesSouth Lanarkshire Council has agreed its key housing strategy for the next five years, with one of the main priorities to deliver on the council’s commitment to build 1,000 new council homes.

The Local Housing Strategy 2017-2022 (LHS) sets out nine outcomes covering housing supply, quality and energy efficiency, supporting independent living, addressing and preventing homelessness and promoting sustainable places.

LHS Outcomes

  1. Increase housing supply and improve access to and choice of housing options that suit people’s needs and which they are able to afford and sustain.

  2. Private renting is a more sustainable housing option that meets all required standards and can meet needs in South Lanarkshire.

  3. Private home owners and private landlords are encouraged and supported to plan for and invest in the maintenance of their property, including areas held in common ownership, to meet all required standards.

  4. Housing quality and energy efficiency is improved and more of the energy used coming from low carbon and renewable sources.

  5. People with particular needs and their carers, are better supported to live independently within the community in a suitable and sustainable home, reducing requirements for institutional care and risks of homelessness.

  6. Homelessness is prevented through effective partnership working.

  7. More people are able to access appropriate advice about housing options and support, reducing the risks of homelessness or requirements for institutional care.

  8. People who experience homelessness are provided with temporary housing as required and are supported to move to settled accommodation that meets their needs as quickly as possible.

  9. Housing sustainability is improved in priority areas and settlements

    10. The LHS also identifies key strategic priorities and actions associated with these nine outcomes, which include the following highlights:

    • increase the supply of affordable housing, including 1,000 new council homes, through the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP)

    • increase the supply of housing suitable for older people and those with disabilities and particular needs, through the new affordable housing programme and private sector development

    • all Registered Social Landlord providers and the Local Authority to achieve the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) for their homes by 2020

    • in partnership, develop extra care and transitional housing models to meet intermediate care needs and contribute to reductions in unplanned hospital admissions and delayed discharge

    • review provision of temporary and supported accommodation to ensure it is suitable and sustainable to meet the needs of homeless households

    • progress the Whitlawburn Regeneration Masterplan, including development of new housing

      • Welcoming the report, chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s housing and technical resources committee, Councillor Josh Wilson, said: “This strategy is absolutely vital to delivering the council’s housing priorities. It is aspirational, ambitious and puts a number of our administrations commitments into action.

      “It commits us to ensuring there is a clear focus on regeneration, to creating more successful and sustainable communities, to developing housing for older people which meets their needs, to reviewing the council’s programme of buying back into council ownership properties sold under Right to Buy and puts targets on increasing the number of accredited private landlords in South Lanarkshire.

      “I am also pleased to reaffirm the council’s commitment to build 1000 new homes by 2021/2022 – but that is not the limit of our ambitions.

      “The level of housing need in South Lanarkshire and the service pressure which exists mean we need to continue to identify further opportunities to deliver affordable new homes.

      “I am delighted to welcome this document and look forward to working with communities across South Lanarkshire to make our plan a reality.”

      The strategy was developed following extensive consultation and engagement with communities.

      Executive director Daniel Lowe said: “This exciting new strategy provides a clear framework for the council and our partners as we look to deliver on our objectives of suitable, affordable and sustainable homes.”

      Share icon
      Share this article:

      Related Articles