room to grow solving the (affordable) housing problem in the inner moray firth. creative...
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ROOM TO GROW
Solving the (affordable) housing problem in the Inner Moray Firth.
Creative Solutions/Options for Action
Di Alexander
23/02/05
4 Main Problems
• Market-led, affordable supply failure
• Effective land supply shortages
and
Planning system restrictions
• Infrastructure provision constraints
• Strategic public investment weaknesses
Causes of Supply Failure
• Supply too small + demand too great = rocketing prices (37% up in 2004)
• Because property is best investment
- big windfall gains
- reliable pension fund
- good little earner/better than stock market
• Area very attractive to outsiders
Solutions to Supply Failure
• Build more houses – mostly affordable ones
• Fiscal reforms “to put boundaries on people’s financial expectations”
• Encourage in-migration with new housing policies
Causes of Land Supply Shortages
• “Land supply is key constraint to increasing housing supply”
• “Planning system restrictions are main constraints on land use for housing”
- zoning system favours up-market housing
- “effective” land supply too restricted- Housing in Countryside policy ditto- Affordable Housing Quota system could be better- Planning Permission process too onerous
Solutions to Land Supply Shortages
• We are not short of land in the Highlands• Planning system land use emphasis should prioritise
affordable housing position• Meantime use SPP3 to the full
- designate more sites as “affordable”- zone more “effective” land in Local Plans- use Exceptions Sites policy more readily- locally responsive quota system/beware PAN74- make PP process simple and very user friendly
Causes of Infrastructure Constraints
• Scottish Water unable to deliver
- basic programming information
- level of investment required
- joined up plans with key partners
• SEPA’s requirements can be OTT
• As can Roads Depts (e.g. 4 house rule)
• And other agencies
Infrastructure Constraints Solutions
• Greater local influence over SW progs
• Much bigger local budget required
• Economic, stand-alone WWT systems
• Relax 4 house rule
• Better partnership working and planning
Causes of Strategic Public Investment Weaknesses
• £25m still isn’t enough!• Too few LCHO opportunties
- to satisfy demand
- to make overall market work better
- to get bigger bang for the public buck• Subsidy-leaking LCHO methods• Lack of Joined-up investment• Too little investment in sustainability e.g. timber
Solutions to Strategic Public Investment Weaknesses
• How much investment is enough? £50m?• 50/50 split on rented HA and LCHO will increase
affordable housing supply• All LCHO methods should lock in subsidy
- e.g. Rural Housing Burdens
- new shared equity model• Scottish Ministers must sort out SW issues• Prioritise investment in sustainable development
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