Week of housing action as SNP provides homes for Scotland

A number of Scottish Government announcements this week have shown the positive action that the SNP Government is taking to provide Scotland with a stock of warm, secure, energy efficient homes.

The Scottish Government has taken decisive steps this week on housing – announcing additional funding for fuel poor households to increase energy efficiency of homes; providing the first loan from the Housing Infrastructure Fund which will build more than 90 affordable homes in Aberdeen; Housing Minister Kevin Stewart spoke at the Homes for Scotland annual conference; and a housing association development was officially opened in West Dunbartonshire following support of £3.8 million from the Scottish Government.

This action shows the SNP has made it a priority to ensure that there is a supply of good quality, affordable and energy efficient housing fit for the future.

Commenting, SNP MSP and convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee at Holyrood, Bob Doris, said: “These announcements from the Scottish Government are very welcome indeed and simply prove the SNP’s commitment to providing the level and quality of housing needed to meet Scotland’s needs.

“It is vital that we develop a supply of affordable, secure, warm and energy efficient housing for families and individuals across Scotland – and I am delighted to see the Scottish Government taking decisive action to ensure this is the case, as well as reaffirming the fact that this area remains a priority for the SNP.

“The announcements of £10 million to support the fuel poor this winter, Scottish Government funding for 600 new homes in Aberdeen including 90 affordable homes, and the opening of a development in West Dunbartonshire that had benefited from a Scottish Government grant shows the SNP Government’s commitment to providing high quality housing.

“Nobody should have to choose between heating and eating, or be unable to find somewhere affordable to live. With this positive action from the SNP, and the investment of more than £3 billion of funding to deliver our target of 50,000 affordable homes over the next 5 years, and £113m this year to tackle fuel poverty and energy efficiency shows we are moving in the right direction in achieving these goals.

Notes:

Funding for the fuel poor: http://news.gov.scot/news/funding-for-the-fuel-poor

600 houses for Aberdeen: http://news.gov.scot/news/600-houses-for-aberdeen

At the official opening of the Caledonia Housing Association development in West Dunbartonshire, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government’s affordable housing supply programme was able to support this project with a grant of £3.8 million. This will support the delivery of  these affordable, high quality homes and will help address the demand for social rented housing for people in the West Dunbartonshire area. We have committed to deliver 50,000 more affordable homes, with 35,000 available for social rent, over the next five years, backed up with investment of more than £3 billion. Projects such as this one today marks another step on road to delivering that pledge.”