Pioneering authority hails sprinkler move for social housing

Angus Council has welcomed the move by the Scottish Government to make sprinkler systems compulsory in new social housing.

It was the first Scottish local authority to install sprinkler systems as standard in its newbuild housing.

Communities convener Mark Salmond said the move was “long overdue”.

“Angus Council has lobbied for installation of domestic sprinkler systems in social housing since 2011 when we made the commitment to install domestic sprinkler systems in all our newbuild houses.

“Angus Council has also invested in supporting housing association partners, where the affordable housing account made a contribution to developments.

“Sprinkler systems are a small investment but they deliver very real benefits. They protect lives, not just those of the householders but those of their neighbours and of our fire and rescue partners.

“In Angus we’ve built over 300 houses fitted with sprinkler systems and we have not had a single problem. This is a very welcome announcement and, although long overdue, I support the move to a national approach for social housing.”

Angus Council’s development at Academy Court in Forfar (formerly Chapelpark School) is the latest development to have a sprinkler system installed.

This innovative project sees the transformation of an iconic B-listed building into 29 affordable homes for social rent.

Mr Salmond added: “As positive an announcement as this is, we must be clear that it will create a two tier system that will see social housing standards outstrip those of private-sector developments.

“Whilst I understand this move is one the government can directly control, the worrying inconsistency it will create means that tenants of new affordable social houses will benefit from the protection of sprinkler systems, whilst their private-sector neighbours on the same estates go without.”