+ EDIN BVRGH +
THE CITY 6 F EDINBURGH COUNCIL
Item no b
Report no
21" Century Council Homes for Edinburgh
Health Social Care and Housing Committee
12 August 2008
1
Purpose of Report
1 .I To recommend the commencement of a programme to build new Council
homes subject to approval of a detailed business case.
2
Summary
2.1 Edinburgh needs 12,000 homes over the next 10 years. Current completions
are at 600 per year and market volatility may reduce this number further. An
opportunity exists to supplement this programme using the sites where old
Council homes are being demolished at North Sighthill, Gracemount and
Pennywell. However, there is no funding available within the approved housing
development programme to develop these sites.
2.2 A recently commissioned study suggests that it is feasible to build council
homes on these sites and this report recommends the establishment of a
project to develop a full business case for this proposal and thereafter to
oversee its implementation.
3
3.1
3.2
Introduction
The supply of affordable housing is major challenge for the city. 12,000 homes
are needed over the next 10 years. At present around 600 new homes are
completed each year - many through the Council's Affordable Housing Planning
Policy, and the downturn in the housing market therefore threatens even that
level of completions.
The Council has approved a phased demolition programme for approximately
1700 Council homes which cannot cost effectively be brought up to the Scottish
Housing Quality Standard (SHQS). As reported to the last meeting of the
Committee, rehousing and demolition programmes are progressing well in
Pennywell, North Sighthill and Gracemount. These demolition sites offer
attractive redevelopment opportunities and all stakeholders are desperately
keen to take forward redevelopment as soon as possible. However, all
development funding for new affordable housing is fully committed and, for this
reason, no plans yet exist for the redevelopment of these sites.
1
3.