MSP for the South of Scotland Aileen McLeod has today (Monday) welcomed the publication of figures showing that 54 new affordable homes have been delivered through the Scottish Government’s National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) over the last three years.
The Scottish Government, with support from the Scottish Futures Trust, developed the original NHT model for councils and developers.
Under the original version of the model, developers and local authorities jointly fund the purchase of newly-built homes, which are then made available for rent at below market rates. The money borrowed by councils to help fund the purchase of NHT homes in their areas is underwritten by the Scottish Government.
In Dumfries & Galloway this has resulted in the construction of 54 affordable homes, which would not otherwise have been built.
Aileen McLeod said:
“The National Housing Trust was the first of its sort in the UK. It broke new ground and is easing housing pressures locally in Dumfries & Galloway whilst supporting jobs in the construction industry and wider economy.
“The initiative is well on track to deliver over 2,000 much-needed new homes in communities across Scotland, all without the need for grant subsidy, which allows the Scottish Government to stretch very hard-pressed capital funding even further.
“I recognise that 54 affordable homes won’t alleviate the shortage of affordable housing in Dumfries & Galloway but they are 54 more affordable homes which wouldn’t otherwise have been built if were not for this innovative way of funding them.
“The Scottish Government is doing everything possible to maximise investment in housing and deliver our target of 30,000 new affordable homes over the lifetime of this parliament.”
