A £19m for the delivery of more than 630 new social houses across Perth and Kinross over the next five years is to be discussed by Councillors on Wednesday (14 August).

The Housing and Health Committee will outline the local authority's Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for 2013-14 to 2017/18.

All Councils are required to supplement their Local Housing Strategy (LHS) with the inclusion of a SHIP, to demonstrate how affordable housing investment policies are to be delivered in practice.

For Perth and Kinross, the plan has identified the need for affordable housing and proposed sites by registered social landlords (RSLs) across the area have been included.

The Council will now work closely with RSL partners to maximise the delivery of social rented housing.

Currently, construction work is due to commence on 177 units in 2013/14.

In future years, 58 units are set to start in 2014/15, with a further 401 in 2015-18, for a total of 636 units.

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A number of the proposed developments are to be part-funded by money from the Council's Council Tax Income on Second Homes Earmarked Reserve.

In 2005, the Council agreed that additional money collected by reducing the Council tax discount on second homes could be used to support the development of affordable housing throughout the local area. The second home discount has been reduced from 50% to 10% and covers around 1,800 properties.

Housing and Health Vice Convener, Councillor Kate Howie, said: "I am delighted to be able to bring this paper before committee. It shows that as a Council we are delivering on our commitment to provide additional modern, affordable housing to our residents.

"All of these proposed new projects, which we will work hard to take forward over the next few years, will make a positive difference to the lives of local people.

"The provision of affordable housing is still one of the major challenges we face in Perth and Kinross, but all of the projects outlined in this plan will represent another major step forward. As well as making more social housing available, they will expand the housing choice available to our residents.

"The enhanced role of the Council through the requirement to develop and implement a Strategic Housing Investment Plan is helping us expand our affordable housing stock by giving priority to the local authority's perspective on local housing needs.

"We very much value the efforts and commitment of our affordable housing partners in local RSLs in delivering affordable homes, particularly in these difficult financial times."

(JP/CD)