PLANS for the build of over 6,500 homes in a £674 million investment have been announced by Glasgow City Council.
Forming part of the local authority’s strategic housing investment programme (SHIP) for 2027/28 – 2031/32, the council said that the plans come alongside a pipeline for 12,000 new homes – should more funding be made available.
The plan seeks to alleviate the housing crisis by combining funding for the new affordable homes with measures to help registered social landlords acquire 430 homes for social rent, along with other priorities for investment in the city’s affordable housing supply over five years.
Councillor Ruairi Kelly, depute leader and convener for housing, development, and land use at Glasgow City Council, said, “Glasgow City Council is doing everything within its power to make a secure home tenancy a reality for as many Glaswegians as we can. I hope the SHIP today demonstrates that. These are ambitious plans build on strong foundations – Glasgow has built far more affordable homes than comparator cities like Manchester or Birmingham over the last five years, and I am determined to raise the bar even further.
“Working in partnership with local housing associations, housebuilders and the wider housing sector we want to be clear to government that Glasgow gets things built and if they are able to increase our housing budget, we can build and acquire even more. This is the sort of investment that will not only provide these much-needed homes during a housing emergency but also boost the city’s economy through supporting construction jobs and the wider supply chain.”
The council’s housing team has also considered the potential acceleration and upscaling of building affordable homes should funding allow, with 59 sites identified across Glasgow with potential capacity to deliver 12,173 new homes in total over the 2027/28 – 2031/32 period; further opportunities in the repurposing of vacant and underused floors in former commercial properties in the city centre into housing will also be explored, to help support the ambition of raising the population of the city centre to 40,000 by 2035.
As part of the funding for the SHIP, it is expected that Glasgow City Council has set out a proposal to invest £674 million of affordable housing supply programme (AHSP) funding over the five years, with this multi-year funding allowing continuity in affordable housing delivery, enabling available investment to be maximised and providing flexibility to be able to respond to changing circumstances over that period. Of these new homes, 74% will be for social rent, 24% for mid-market rent, and 2% for new supply shared equity or private sector rent.
Project Scotland spoke to councillor Ruairi Kelly in October on the local authority’s plan to work more closely with the construction sector. To read the article, click here.
