Argyll & Bute Council tackles housing shortage.
Argyll and Bute Council is dedicated to working hand in hand with its partners to tackle the housing crisis in the region and provide relief to residents grappling with the current housing shortage.
During a recent meeting of the Full Council, councillors gave the green light to proposals from Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) to demolish 44 uninhabitable housing units at Dalintober in Campbeltown and replace them with 24 new-build properties. These units are deemed beyond repair and do not meet the current Scottish Housing Quality Standards.
Furthermore, councillors also agreed to a request from ACHA to sell an additional seven properties in Campbeltown and four properties in Dunoon on the open market. These properties are no longer viable to be retained within the existing housing stock due to their age, disrepair, and the escalating maintenance costs associated with them.
The annual report of the Strategic Housing Fund (SHF) was presented to councillors, outlining the council’s strategy to utilise the fund in supporting the affordable housing development programme, with the aim of delivering an additional 1,395 affordable houses.
In recent months, the council, alongside its partners, has successfully implemented various key actions from its Housing Emergency Plan to help alleviate the housing scarcity in the area. These actions include:
- Collaborating with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to identify and develop new housing sites and secure external funding. A total of 223 houses received planning consent between June and November 2023.
- Allocating over £700k for the conversion of empty homes back into use and the commencement of work on key worker housing.
- Commencing development on a key worker housing site at Tobermory.
- Conducting site investigations at various council-owned locations to explore potential housing redevelopments.
- Directly engaging with national house builders to understand their strategic plans and explore opportunities for development in Argyll and Bute.
- Undertaking options appraisals on Islay and in Oban to evaluate potential housing redevelopment.
- Approving funding for the appointment of a Housing Emergency Project Officer to facilitate site unlocking.
- Adopting the Local Development Plan 2 following approval.
- Securing funding for Strategic Development Plans for Oban/North Lorn and Helensburgh and Lomond.
This concerted effort underscores Argyll and Bute Council’s unwavering commitment to addressing the housing needs of the community and ensuring the availability of safe and affordable housing for all residents. Through collaborative initiatives and strategic planning, the council aims to make tangible progress in resolving the housing crisis and enhancing the quality of life in the region.
