Listen
Housing Supply Task Force
06/02/2009
A Government backed expert group today published a blueprint to help increase housing supply to satisfy need and demand in the Scottish housing market.
In its report, the Housing Supply Task Force presented recommendations to help establish the conditions for house building to recover once market conditions improve.
The Task Force membership was drawn from local authorities, house-builders, the housing association movement and housing interest groups.
The report sets out four priority recommendations for national and local government, house-builders and others to take forward:
- Identify alternative methods of funding infrastructure to accelerate construction of housing and other major projects
- Ensure speedy implementation of planning system reforms
- Establish a framework to assist the house building industry return to full capacity swiftly once markets improve
- Making better use of public sector land for housing.
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said:
"I am extremely grateful for the work undertaken by the members of the Task Force, and the commitment they have shown since our first meeting.
"During a difficult time for Scotland's housing market, the Task Force has been invaluable in bringing together the key players from private and public sector in a spirit of genuine cooperation.
"Task Force members have helped shape the significant measures that the Scottish Government has previously announced in response to the economic downturn.
"I am confident that the recommendations set out in this report will help to establish the platform needed to help house building bounce back to full capacity once market conditions improve.
"Turning these recommendations into reality will entail further close co-operation and action from a wide range of interests, including national and local Government, the house building sector, housing associations and the financial sector.
"Looking ahead, there is a clear need for the Task Force to continue with a new remit and a strengthened membership to ensure coordinated responses to the ongoing challenges facing the housing market."
On June 21, 2007 Mr Maxwell announced to Parliament his intention to establish a Housing Supply Task Force to tackle the obstacles, such as land supply and planning issues that have been hampering the delivery of more housing.
The Housing Supply Task Force membership is as follows: Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport Councillor Harry McGuigan (CoSLA Housing Portfolio) Councillor Alison Hay (CoSLA Planning Portfolio) Ronnie Jacobs (Chair, Homes for Scotland) Jonathan Fair (Homes for Scotland) Kennedy Foster (Council of Mortgage Lenders) Archie Stoddart (Shelter)(to June 2008) Graeme Brown (Shelter) (from July 2008) Brian Gegan (Scottish Federation of Housing Associations).
The Task Force will continue its work in 2009 with a revised remit, to be agreed when it next meets, which will allow it to focus on further responses to the changed economic circumstances. Task Force membership will also be strengthened to support that revised remit.