Falkirk’s Housing Initiatives Progress to Be Reviewed
Three crucial housing reports are set to be deliberated upon at the upcoming Falkirk Council’s Executive meeting on 10 October, focusing on the advancements in delivering housing priorities for the area.
The reports will delve into the Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028, the Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2025-30, and the Housing Annual Assurance Report for 2024.
Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 – Update on the first year
Falkirk Council’s Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2023-2028 was endorsed in October 2023 with the aim of tackling local housing challenges.
During the past year, a total of 210 affordable homes have been successfully delivered. Among these homes, 132 are brand new, 74 homes were acquired through the Buy-Back Scheme, and 4 homes were purchased by individuals through the Open Shared Market Scheme, which assists in enabling people to purchase their own homes.
Despite facing obstacles such as reduced grants and escalating costs, the council has shown progress in key areas such as sustainable housing and carbon emissions reduction.
Presently, 95.8% of council properties meet the Energy Efficiency Standard for Scottish Social Housing (EESSH).
Furthermore, an upcoming Empty Homes Plan is expected to be sanctioned outlining strategies to reutilize empty homes.
The Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) report reviews the progress made in 2023-2024, with a total expenditure of £13.6 million on affordable housing projects during this period.
The SHIP 2025-2030 sets forth plans to cater to local housing requirements, supported by an expected income of £9.5 million from Scottish Government grants in 2025-2026.
The council affirmed its commitment to collaborating with housing partners to provide a diverse range of housing options for the community.
The Housing Annual Assurance Report outlines the council’s adherence to Scottish Housing Regulator standards. While commendable progress has been achieved, certain areas necessitate enhancements, and the council has devised strategies to achieve full compliance by 2025.
Findings from the 2024 Tenant Satisfaction Survey indicate an increase in satisfaction rates compared to the previous survey results, surpassing the national average across several metrics.
- 93.4% overall satisfaction with the housing service (up from 75.3% in 2021)
- 96.4% satisfaction with the quality of homes (up from 77%)
- 96.9% believe rent offers good value for money (up from 76.6%)
These outcomes will shape the Tenant and Customer Participation Strategy 2025-2028.
Kenny Gillespie, the head of Housing and Communities, expressed satisfaction with the progress made despite financial and logistical challenges.
He stated: “The council remains committed to delivering affordable, high-quality housing. We eagerly anticipate presenting the report to elected members at the Executive meeting.”
