Council bosses outline efforts to tackle housing emergency

COUNCIL bosses have issued an update on progress made since they declared a housing emergency.

Argyll and Bute Council became the first local authority in Scotland last year to raise the issue of a housing shortage.

They said as well as a “Housing Summit” in November, they are working on a “Housing Emergency Action Plan” with other agencies in communities around the region.

In Helensburgh, there has been site investigations at Hermitage Primary School Annex, with options being considered for housing including “potential specialist accommodation/care in partnership with the HSCP”.

Site investigations are also underway at council-owned sites on Tiree and Coll with interest from social landlords.

Progress has been made said the council on demolishing Rothesay Academy and create a housing redevelopment.

The local authority will hire a housing emergency project officer to “help unlock sites”, and they said they continue to work with social landlords for new developments. They approved 223 homes between June and November 2023.

They also said they are engaging with national house builders to find opportunities locally.

But there has been vocal opposition to applications for new private homes on greenbelt land, such as in Cardross. Developers can appeal any delays or rejections of their plans. Objectors have no such right of appeal.

And while inflation has declined nationally, rents are continuing to rise by about nine per cent in the UK and Helensburgh letting agents have reported more than 20 people per property competing for a home.

Council Leader Councillor Robin Currie said: “Since we declared a Housing Emergency last year, we have focussed considerable activity on exploring new methods and solutions to tackle the housing shortages in Argyll and Bute and to bring renewed focus to delivering business as usual in an accelerated fashion.

“The Housing Summit enabled us to get together with our partners to programme a broad range of activities, both in the short term and long term.

“We are fully committed to tackling the housing emergency in Argyll and Bute.

“We know the issues facing our communities and we will continue to work with our partners to target this collective action where it is needed most.”

A full list of the council’s actions was presented at a meeting this week. They have a dedicated webpage to the subject at https:// www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/housing/housing-emergency.