Rural Community Gateway

In Firm Foundations, the Scottish Government set out its vision for the future of housing in Scotland. They asked for your views on proposals such as increasing the rate of new housing supply in Scotland to at least 35,000 a year by the middle of the next decade, and the provision of direct cash grants for first time buyers.

You can find all the responses to Firm Foundations on the Scottish Government website now. I’ve pulled out some key points from a few of the responses below. Don’t forget you can let us know what you think about the issues raised in responses by adding your comments to this article. You can also still add comments to our Great Rural Debate on Housing, which focussed on affordable housing in rural areas and planning.

Rural Housing Service

The Rural Housing Service welcomed the proposed increase in overall housing supply. However, they would like to see targets for the delivery of affordable housing in rural areas. The Rural Housing Service commended the role of Rural Housing Enablers in improving local authorities’ and housing agency knowledge of housing needs in small rural communities. They also commended the role that community land trusts have in delivering affordable housing.

Read the Rural Housing Service’s response to Firm Foundations

Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA)

SRPBA said that although Firm Foundations did recognise particular rural issues, it had an urban focus. They raised concerns that many of the proposals set out may lead to an uneven distribution of resources to urban areas. The SRPBA would welcome the appointment of a Rural Housing Expert/Group and the ring fencing of resources for rural areas.

Read SRPBA’s response to Firm Foundations

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations welcomed the Government’s commitment to increasing overall supply and amending the right to buy. However they urged to Government to exercise more consideration when it came to a number of proposals such as giving cash grants to first time buyers and amending the right to buy for new build only.

Read the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations response

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)

While SNH said it was not with their expertise to comment on methodologies set out in Firm Foundations for increasing housing needs, or the overall requirement they raised concerns that the scale of development could have implications for natural heritage, particularly in more rural areas.

Read SNH’s response to Firm Foundations here

Related articles

Download Firm Foundations discussion paper
Read responses to Firm Foundations on Scottish Government website
Great Rural Debate on Housing
New planning policy encourages councils to release land

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