Delivery of affordable homes across Scotland will be accelerated, as a result of bringing forward up to £100 million of spending through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, First Minister Alex Salmond has announced.

The First Minister delivered the annual Donald Dewar Lecture at the Edinburgh Book Festival {Tues 19th Aug} and set out a package of Scottish Government actions to strengthen the Scottish economy. In advance of the Lecture, Salmond published a new housing policy document responding to the changing economic climate.

The announcement builds on the package of major housing system reforms announced by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in June, which included additional support for first time buyers, incentives for a new generation of council housing and increased protection for home owners.

The full programme - to help Scotland meet the immediate economic challenges, promote growth and support business confidence - follows an urgent review by the Scottish Cabinet of the Government`s policies and spending plans. It includes:

-Bringing forward up to £100 million of affordable housing investment to be spent this year and next, rather than 2010-11 as originally planned. Some £60 million will be committed from national government programmes and, in line with the Concordat, a further £40 million from local government is being discussed.

-New criteria for housing associations to purchase unsold stock or land to deliver houses where they are needed, at best cost to the public purse

-European Structural Funds: on top of the £180 million the Scottish Government have already committed to spend from the 2007-13 Programmes, front load a high share of the remaining funds to support high quality projects and provide a direct stimulus to the Scottish economy


www.scottisharchitecture.com/news/read/%C2%A3100+million+for+affordable+housing