Arran top for lifestyle but population crisis looms
‘Two out of three is bad’, says economic group
A new report has found that Arran is the third most desirable place in Scotland to live.
In the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the island, the Arran Economic Group (AEG) used both national and local statistics to measure the quality of life on Arran. Only Orkney and East Dunbartonshire scored higher as more desirable to live in.
But while the report has been welcomed, there is concern that the statistics do not reflect the whole picture.
Arran has a strong economy with an estimated double digit growth of 10 per cent and a prediction of 80 to 100 new jobs being created on the island in the next two to five years.
But the population is declining and ageing rapidly, with a North Ayrshire Council projection of a 47 per cent decline in working-age population by 2025, if nothing changes.
So while the quality of life and economy may be in a healthy state, there is an urgent need for a balanced growing population, and that means attracting new and younger residents.
Chairman Tom Tracey told the Banner: ‘For Arran, it turns out Meat Loaf was wrong. Two out of three is very bad. A severe reduction in working-age population will impact economic growth and quality of life. Taken together, both these effects will accelerate over the next five years if the problem is not addressed.
‘To be clear: we have jobs across all sectors but few candidates to fill them. There are skills shortages which cannot be ignored, but the primary reasons we are unable to attract or retain employees is that we have a severe shortage of low-cost permanent accommodation.’
Now the AEG is urging everyone who is looking for affordable/social housing accommodation on Arran to log their names on the Common Housing Register and duplicate their details with the other housing associations operating in North Ayrshire.
Mr Tracey said: ‘The AEG objective is to make Arran a world-class place to live, work and visit by 2020 and beyond, but to make that happen the island needs a sustainable growing economy, a high quality of life and a balanced growing population.’
A lack of affordable housing has reached crisis level on Arran and the situation is only going to get worse.
Over the next two to five years, the lack of affordable housing challenge will become acute. Indeed, the Arran Economic Group (AEG) believes Arran has possibly reached that stage on some areas of the island.
It expects a sizable increase in job vacancies and an additional 80 to 100 new jobs being created due to the increased business growth and expansion of around 10 per cent per annum.
But unless these incoming workers can be found some- where to stay, the continuing growing of the healthy island economy could be in jeopardy.
Now the AEG has taken the first major steps to address the issue. And its immediate call to action is for everyone who is looking for affordable or social housing accommodation on Arran to register their names on the Common Housing Register (CHR) and duplicate their details with the other housing associations (HA) connected with the North Ayrshire area.
It explains that most HAs form part of the CHR but not all. Indeed, Trust Housing Association, which is the main provider of social housing on Arran, operates its own list and some HAs only take a percentage of applicants from the Common Housing Register. So, by registering a few times with different providers, this will ensure people are not missed and the chances are that much greater to securing a permanent home.
The group understands there has been a certain reluctance to register with a HA, due to the low turnover of social housing properties, which is presently less than three per cent per annum. People on Arran feel ‘there is no point – there are never any houses’. However, unless there are names on the CHR and HA registers, this situation will not improve, the economic group argues.
The reason has become clear over the past few months as the AEG has looked further into the lack of affordable housing challenge faced on Arran. Local authorities and housing associations take their lead from various documents, one being the Common Housing Register and others such as the Social Housing Investment Plan and Local Development Plan. If these documents do not show a ‘need’ for housing, the providers will not build. So, it is essential, names are on the lists as these are the documents which drive construction and provision. The AEG is also working closely with the stakeholders responsible for the ‘driver’ documents
to influence the construction of affordable homes based on economic need.
Arran currently has 75 empty homes registered with North Ayrshire Council, which, if brought back into use, would certainly help ease the pressure.
North Ayrshire Council has the empty homes fund designed to provide funds to bring back these homes into use as ‘affordable’ properties for sale or rent. So, if anyone owns one of these properties, talk to the empty homes officer within NAC housing department for more details.
The AEG continues to work closely with NAC (housing, planning and economic development departments), HIE and the Scottish Government to put in place ‘Arran proof’ interventions to ease and improve the situation. The AEG has also identified five potential sites in Brodick and Lamlash and commissioned feasibility studies based on economic need with the results due towards the end of autumn this year. To enable construction, access to rural housing funds and meet the housing demand, the AEG is in the process of registering a new company with charitable status: the Arran Development Trust.
Once the supportive feasibility studies are complete, the AEG/ADT will be in a position to make further positive step announcements.