Scotland's Parliament: What we want for housing!
Jacqui Watt, Chief Executive, SFHA
Alan Ferguson, Director, CIH
Archie Stoddart, Director, Shelter (Scotland)
Robert Aldridge, Director, SCSH
Councillor Sheila Gilmore, Representing COSLA
Representatives from the five pre-eminent housing organisations assembled to face an inquisition from the delegates at the CIH Scotland conference 2007.
Alan Fergusson framed the session round the four key themes in the Planning for a Better Future manifesto: More Homes; Better Homes; Better Neighbourhoods; and Sustainable Communities.
Archie Stoddart reiterated the collective's call for 30,000 new houses for rent to be delivered in the next 3 years. He defended the 'realistic' number as it is based on research commissioned by the Scottish Executive. In an election year, he also called for the organisations present to lobby potential MSPs and councillors to support this demand for new housing.
He completed his section by suggesting that local authorities should be given greater powers and resources to buy land on the open market that they can then provide at a reduced cost to housing providers.
The call for 'better homes' was made by Jacqui Watt. She said that better homes must encompass accessibility, environmental standards and the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. Jacqui welcomed the SHQS as a target the must be met and improved upon over time.
She also said that there should be a quality standard for private housing to improve the quality of owner occupied and privately rented properties. This sparked a debate that included the provisions in the 2006 Housing (Scotland) Act that gives local authorities greater powers to improve the condition of owner occupied and privately rented stock.
Sheila Gilmore said that there is a clear need to mainstream decent design standards for the open spaces in neighbourhoods if local authorities and housing associations are to provide good neighbourhoods. The panel also acknowledge that there can be a need to invest in the maintenance of neighbourhoods through initiatives such as neighbourhood wardens if neighbourhoods are to be successful in the long term.
Robert Aldridge then took up the baton to speak about 'sustainable living'. Scotland is facing the prospect of an ageing population which has implications for the design of housing and for the support services that will be needed to help people sustain independent living.
He called for improved co-operation with Health Boards to identify patterns of current and future needs. He also suggested that local authorities should draw on the knowledge of health boards when they develop housing plans.