SFHA Welcomes Extra £10m for Housing

Written by Claire Munro Tuesday, 31 January 2012 16:21

Responding to this afternoon's (Tuesday 31st January) announcement that the Scottish Government is to invest an extra £10m in new affordable housing this year (2011-12), the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said this was a welcome boost for the economy, for communities, and for people looking for a home.

The money comes from 2011-12 Barnett Consequentials from the UK government.

Mary Taylor, Chief Executive of the SFHA said:

"The SFHA has campaigned hard, with other organisations, for extra investment in new build affordable housing, which has a unique impact on the economy, meeting huge need for homes, and in alleviating homelessness.

"We are pleased the Scottish Government has listened carefully to the case made by the sector, and is to reverse some of the hefty cut made to new affordable house building budgets this year.

"Housing associations and co-operatives have already proved they can use government investment, added to private finance they raise themselves, to build large numbers of high quality, energy efficient housing, that will serve our communities well.

"We look forward to liaising with Government on taking projects forward and discussing how the new three-year funding arrangements, also announced today, will work. We will continue to press for appropriate investment in the valuable homes and services provided by Scotland's housing associations and co-operatives."

Dr Taylor added:

"We also welcome the Government's change in approach to longer term planning, which makes more effective use of available resources."

 

ends

For further information, contact Claire Munro on t: 0141 567 6224 m: 07771926778 or e: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit our website at www.sfha.co.uk
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NOTES:

1) To view the Scottish Government press release go to http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/01/Housing31012012

2) New Scottish Government investment in new build affordable housing was originally set at £20m for housing associations and co-operatives, as per the terms of its Innovation and Investment Fund. http://www.sfha.co.uk/component/option,com_docman/Itemid,89/gid,784/task,doc_download/ Following a series of representations from the SFHA and others, total new money for 2011-12 now stands at £72m.In previous years, the housing association sector could expect around £100m of new money with which to develop homes.

3) The SFHA was established in 1975 and has around 170 members providing affordable housing and wider community services in Scotland, as well as a further 200 commercial members. The SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance.

4) The SFHA is the voice of the principal builders and managers of new affordable housing for rent in Scotland. Housing Associations own and manage around 40% of the country's affordable rented housing stock, over a quarter of a million homes across Scotland.

5) Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.

 

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