Associate feature: IIP funding is welcome acknowledgement of housing’s vital role in recovery

As part of its recent Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP), the Scottish Government announced proposed funding of £3.3bn for the next Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

This is a welcome acknowledgement that delivering affordable housing is central to Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic, and we look forward to working with the next government to make this happen.

While the IIP funding will help to tackle housing need, it is still slightly short of what is required.

Last June, together with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland and Shelter Scotland, we released research that found Scotland needs 53,000 affordable homes, including 37,100 for social rent, between 2021 and 2026, and this would require investment of at least £3.4bn.

Further funding may be made available through the UK Budget in March, and we are calling for the UK Government to confirm and maintain Scotland’s Financial Transactions funding.

If further support is made available, we are looking to the next Scottish Government to increase the £3.3bn funding in order to allow social landlords to deliver the 53,000 affordable homes to the required energy and building standards, while maintaining affordable rents for tenants.

With costs of construction rising, and social landlords expected to meet new higher standards, we must ensure that housing association have adequate levels of subsidy.

Grant levels need to be reviewed before May’s Scottish Parliament election, so the next government can ensure the affordable housing programme has the investment to deliver the homes needed and of the type and quality required.

While a record number of homes have been delivered during this parliament, progress must be maintained at a level which meets housing need.

The recent Social Renewal Advisory Board report made recommendations for a fairer and more equal post-pandemic Scotland, central to which is making sure everyone has access to a safe, warm, affordable home.

The next Scottish Government can help to realise this by ensuring social landlords have the funding they need to deliver the 53,000 affordable homes Scotland requires.

Sally Thomas is chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA). This article was sponsored by the SFHA.