Council & HOMEArgyll move on housing shortage

Together, Argyll & Bute Council and HOMEArgyll (made up of the local housing associations) are preparing to apply to the Scottish Government to have areas within the local authority’s jurisdiction given Pressured Area Designation (PAD).

The move is designed to act against a significant shortage of affordable homes in some areas. If the request was granted, some people taking up their tenancies after 30th September 2002 would have their ‘Right to Buy’ suspended, initally for 5 years.

This would see a number of houses, which might otherwise have been sold off to sitting tenants, continue to be available for let to local families and individuals considered to be in the greatest housing need.

The areas to be considered for PAD, based on current and historic housing needs and demand assessments, are:

• COWAL – Ardentinny; Benmore; Blairmore; Colintraive; Dunoon/Kirn; Glendaruel; Innellan; Kames/Tighnabruiach; Kilmun; Lochgoilhead; Millhouse; Sandban; Strachur; Strone; Toward
• BUTE – Kilchattan/Kingarth
• MID ARGYLL – Lochgilphead; Ardrishaig; Cairnbaan; Craignish/Ardfern; Crarae; Crinan; Eredine; Inveraray; Kilmartin; Tayvallich
• KINTYRE – Gigha; Macrihanish; Penninver
• ISLAY, JURA & COLONSAY – Ballygrant; Bowmore; Bridgend; Bruichladdich; Keills/Port Askaig; Port Charlotte; Port Ellen; Portnahaven; Jura; Colonsay
• LORN – Oban; Appin; Balvicar; Barcaldine; Benderloch; Bonawe; Clachan Seil; Connel; North Connel; Dalmally; Dunbeg; Kilchrennan; Kilmore; Kilmelford; Kilninver; Lochawe; Taynuilt; Lismore; Luing; Port Appin
• MULL & IONA – Bunessan; Craignure; Dervaig; Fionnphort; Salen; Tobermory; Iona
• COLL & TIREE - Coll; Tiree
• HELENSBURGH & LOMOND – Arrochar; Cardross; Kilcreggan; Helensburgh; Luss; Rhu

Councillor George Freeman, Argyll and Bute Council’s Housing and Communities Spokesperson, says: ‘We need to consider all the options that are available to us to try and increase the supply of affordable housing across Argyll and Bute.

‘Some areas are suffering from serious shortages of affordable rented accommodation, which is having an impact on individuals and families on housing waiting lists throughout the region.

‘Although the PAD proposal will not impact on the majority of tenants across Argyll and Bute, I believe that the process we are considering will hopefully prove an effective measure in helping to ensure that there are more affordable properties available for those who need them’.

The Council has now completed its initial analysis of of the evidence on housing needs and has identified the potential areas – listed above – for inclusion in the PAD application.

Along with its housing association partners, the Council is now undertaking a period of consultation with social sector tenants, waiting list applicants, and local residents in general.

If, eventually, the application is submitted and approved, not all Housing Association tenants will be affected, even within the designated areas.

In addition, all eligible Right To Buy tenants will retain that right – it will simply be suspended, in the first instance, for five years.

Key points to note are:

• Anyone with an interest in this issue is invited to contact the Council at the address below and express their view via phone, email or letter by 15th January 2010.
• Housing association tenants who have queries regarding their own tenancy and their eligibility status for Right To Buy should contact their local housing association office in the first instance.
• When the consultation exercise has been completed, a report will be submitted to the Council’s Executive and to members of the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing & Communities Forum, as well as the boards of the individual Housing Associations.
• Only when this has been done will any decision as to whether or not to submit an application to the Scottish Government for Ministerial approval be taken.

Contact Research & Development Officer, Allan Brandie, for further information regarding the PAD process, or to provide comments on the proposed  submission.

• Address: Argyll and Bute Council, Dolphin Hall, Manse Avenue, Dunoon, Argyll, PA23 8DQ
• Phone:  01369 70 8679
• Email:   allan.brandie@argyll-bute.gov.uk)

The full text of the draft PAD submission isavailable online at the Council website.