EAST Renfrewshire Council and Barrhead Housing have entered a strategic partnership to increase and improve the housing supply and services in the region.
Having declared a local housing emergency last year, the local authority has been working with Barrhead Housing to respond and mitigate the impact of increasing levels of homelessness.
The council said the new strategic agreement is a crucial step in tackling the issues the services are currently facing. The agreement also supports the delivery of plans to have well-designed and sustainable housing options with more affordable homes in the region.
The contribution of new homes from Barrhead Housing will assist the council in achieving the local housing strategy minimum target of 45 additional affordable homes per year on average over five years, it said.
Furthermore, the council said that, whilst this is the target, by working collaboratively and maximising opportunities for finding suitable homes across all housing tenures, the ambition is to achieve up to 65 additional affordable homes per year.
Speaking at the launch event, convener for environment and housing at East Renfrewshire Council, councillor Danny Devlin, said, “Today marks a formal commitment, but Barrhead Housing has long been one of our key partners in the local community. This strategic agreement acknowledges the vital role our partnership plays, so I’m delighted it is now in place and we can continue to work together and provide our tenants and the wider community with a service we can all be proud of.”
Barrhead Housing chief executive Lorna Wilson added, “This agreement will make a real difference in addressing the housing emergency in East Renfrewshire. It will add over 200 new, affordable homes to the 1000 we currently own and manage.
“This will include building over 150 new homes for social rent and 26 for mid-market rent, as well as purchasing up to 50 existing homes from the open market. These ambitious plans will deliver attractive, modern homes that are energy-efficient and affordable to heat, ensuring we reduce our carbon footprint and meet our fuel poverty and net zero targets.”
