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Sunday, July 22, 2012

A housing crisis

Scotland is facing a housing crisis with local councils planning for 180,000 fewer homes than are needed for the nation’s growing population. Unless there are more homes, the analysis suggests, Scots will face rising house prices, a struggle to secure rented accommodation and family friction as young people are forced to spend years ­living with their parents. Professor Glen Bramley, a lecturer in urban studies at ­Heriot-Watt University, said the consequences of a housing shortage would ripple out across Scotland. “A shortage means house prices rise and only the most affluent can ­afford to buy. This means the middle classes may rent ­instead of buy and they in turn push out other people from the rental market, which puts more pressure on social housing. It will mean young people have to live longer with their parents and that has its own problems if the house is small.”
Planning experts Geddes Consulting studied the housing plans of local authorities in the four main city regions –south-east Scotland, Glasgow and the Clyde Valley, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and Tayside and East Fife. Overall, it says, according to the plans drawn up by the Strategic Development Plan Authorities (SDPAs) that cover the four areas, 352,670 new homes will be needed over the next 12 years. However, the same authorities have set aside land capable of siting just 173,000 new homes, leaving a shortfall of 179,000 homes.

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire have stated that they will require 35,630 homes before 2027, but, according to their most recent development plans, their land supply is enough to cover just 16,000 new homes, leaving a shortfall of 19,630. Glasgow and Clyde Valley have stated that they will require 183,500 new homes before 2025, but the land set aside for building will allow 85,000 new homes, leaving a shortfall of 98,500. The South East of Scotland (SESplan), which covers East Lothian, Edinburgh, parts of Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian, have a projected need of 107,500 new homes but have set aside land for 60,000, leaving a shortfall of 47,500. Similarly, the TAYplan, which covers Dundee City, Angus, East Fife and St Andrews and Perth and Kinross need 26,040 but have land ready for 12,000, leaving a projected shortfall of 14,040.

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