News

Social security secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has announced the appointment of Dr Sally Witcher as chair of a new body tasked with scrutinising the Scottish social security system. The Scottish Commission on Social Security will provide independent and expert scrutiny of the Scottish social secu

Former school buildings across Dundee are set to be demolished to make way for housing and community facilities. The buildings to be demolished are the former Frances Wright nursery and the old St Luke’s and St Matthew’s, Longhaugh, St Vincent’s and Rosebank primary schools.

Housing charity Shelter has said it will take an investment of £214 billion into the delivery of three million new homes to solve the social housing crisis in England. A new report from the charity has urged minister to invest in a 20-year building programme and extend the criteria for who is

The Scottish Parliament’s local government and communities committee will tomorrow take evidence on the Scottish Budget 2019-20.  Cabinet secretary for finance, economy and fair work, Derek Mackay, Cabinet secretary for communities, social security and equalities, Aileen Campbell, COSLA a

A Dundee woman is set to pack her bags for Lebanon, to help refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Syria. Amera Sajid, a money advice worker for Gowrie Care, which is part of the Hillcrest Group of Companies, will travel to the Middle Eastern country for a week on January 24 with the

Developers have lodged plans to demolish a former printer’s workshop in the centre of Aberdeen and replace it with a block of flats. Aberdeen Capital Investment Ltd has applied for permission to begin work on the proposed development at 15 Maberly Street between George Street and Rosemount Pla

Energy supplier E.ON launched an innovative pilot project to help tackle the blight of long-term empty homes and the current housing shortage that persists across the UK. The firm will work with North East Derbyshire District Council to bring empty homes back into use by offering effective solutions

Aberdeenshire Council has approved planning permission in principle for more than 700 homes and community facilities on the outskirts of Inverurie. Crichie Developments, led by Dandara, is looking to build 737 homes, a primary school and retail development at Crichie, which is just outside the Aberd

An MSP has called on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to do more to house former veterans after new figures revealed a rise in the number of army homes left empty. Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request show the number of vacant MoD properties in Scotland increased from 690 in 2013 t

Thenue Housing has embarked on a year of celebration to mark its 40th anniversary. Its first act for 2019 is to unveil its anniversary logo which will become a feature of the celebrations throughout the year.

CALA Homes has teamed up with NHS Grampian to submit a planning application to Aberdeen City Council for a development within the former Royal Cornhill Hospital Grounds. The application outlines a proposal for the creation of 36 one and two bedroom apartments at May Baird Avenue.

Low income families and carers will benefit from four new benefits being introduced by Social Security Scotland this year. The four new payments will follow the successful launch last year of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Best Start Grant, Pregnancy and Baby Payment.

A new property management portal is to be launched which aims to revolutionise the lettings industry by establishing new standards of transparency, fairness, and convenience for the benefit of both landlords and tenants. The bespoke portal, entitled apropos, has been designed and built by prope

Plans for 12 new homes in Macduff have been given the go-ahead by Aberdeenshire Council. Businesswoman Elaine Duthie had submitted plans to turn a former dry cleaners into flats.

A new course aimed at providing people with the necessary skills to help people who are homeless will be launched by the University of Edinburgh this month. Around 40 people are already enrolled on the 10-week Homeless and Inclusion Health course, including 23 bursary students from outside the unive