Councillors from the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee heard an update on the proposed vision for the Local Housing Strategy, which includes strategic outcomes such as:

• Supporting a sufficient supply of housing to meet the varying needs of the citizens of Aberdeen;
• Working to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring;
• Improving the condition of existing homes, and;
• Improving the energy efficiency of homes, reducing fuel poverty, and addressing climate change by reducing carbon emissions.

Councillor Miranda Radley, convener of the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee, said: “We are continuously working to identify how the city’s housing stock could be improved to benefit those already living there and encourage our tenants to stay there for longer.

“By doing this we can also help to improve our local communities and make Aberdeen a better place to live in.”

Vice-convener Councillor Dell Henrickson said: “Supporting our tenants remains our top priority and it is encouraging to hear of plans to not only improve the conditions of homes, but also enables many to live independently at home for as long as they can.”

The committee further heard of plans to carry out a review of housing for varying needs, which includes amenity housing, sheltered housing and very sheltered/extra care housing for older people and people with disabilities.

A pilot scheme is to be introduced comprising a hybrid model of care and support, which would allow tenants who require sheltered housing or very sheltered housing to live at home for longer instead of moving elsewhere if their care needs change.

The pilot scheme is to be implemented at Provost Hogg Court and if successful, could be introduced in other parts of the city.