The upcoming Planning (Scotland) Bill must contain provisions for increasing the supply of 'affordable' housing beyond the lifetime of the current parliament, according to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

In responding to the Local Government and Communities Committee's enquiry into the Bill, the SFHA said while it welcomes the 50,000 'affordable' homes target backed by over £3 billion of funding, the legislation must put in place a system to deliver a longer-term increased supply of 'affordable' housing after the commitment ends in 2021.

The organisation has therefore proposed several changes to the bill, which it believes will help to increase the supply of affordable housing of all tenures;

• In order for simplified planning zones (SPZs) to meet housing need and deliver wider policy benefits, they should be developed based on a local Housing Needs and Demands Assessment that identifies the type and tenure of homes needed in the area

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• Planning Bill must make provision for the transfer of land at existing use value in order to increase the supply of affordable housing

• The SFHA believes that land value capture (LVC) can do more to increase the delivery of homes and better places. It supports calls for the bill to allow LVC to capture the uplift in value, gained through planning permission for housing, and for it to be used, for example, to fund the infrastructure required to service the site.

• Planning approval, or the purchase of a site with the intention of the development for housing, does not always lead to delivery of homes in the near future. SFHA believes that the use of Compulsory Sales Orders for land that has not been developed, and has lain empty for five years, would help to increase housing supply.

David Stewart, SFHA Policy Lead, said the Bill "provides an opportunity to increase housing delivery and create better places beyond the lifetime of this parliament".

"Longer-term investment in affordable housing will have wide ranging benefits for Scotland and its people," he said.

"Building affordable housing results in economic growth as it creates jobs and apprenticeships. 

"Good quality warm affordable housing has a vital role to play in improving the nation's health as not only is it vital for a person's mental and physical wellbeing, it can allow people with specific needs, such as older or disabled people, to stay in their own homes.

"The Planning Bill presents a significant opportunity to commit to longer-term housing investment which will not only provide much needed homes but allow the government to continue to tackle poverty and inequality in Scotland."

(LM)