Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) to improve social housing across Scotland.

The companies aim to collaborate through innovation to support an increase in the affordability, sustainability, quality and supply of social housing.

SFHA members will be granted a number of benefits from the partnership, including:

• Support for housing associations to use Building Information Management (BIM) to streamline their maintenance and asset management of existing homes

• Joint work to investigate the potential benefits of offsite construction to the social and affordable housing sector and co-design solutions to increase supply

• The creation of a 'Housing Innovation Community' – a leadership and knowledge-sharing hub for the housing sector, focusing on emerging technologies, digital transformation and future housing types

• A half-day innovation event for the housing association sector hosted at CSIC’s Innovation Factory

• A members' discount on use of CSIC's Innovation Factory.

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They also face a number of challenges, including:

• Increasing the supply of new build affordable housing when there is a shortage of skilled construction workers

• Investing in existing homes to reduce fuel poverty and meet new fire safety standards

• Providing housing suitable for an ageing population.

SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas said: "SFHA members - housing associations and co-operatives - have an enviable track record of innovation, but there has never been a more important time to articulate and demonstrate the benefits of innovation in social housing in areas such as cost, quality, safety and energy efficiency.

"A key element of the partnership is 'Home of the Future' Innovation and Future Thinking programme, which is bringing the housing and construction sectors, and others, together to create a vision of future living. A series of collaborative innovation projects began in September 2018 to develop and test new ideas, approaches and models for the Home of the Future.

"With the changes and challenges ahead for our members come opportunities which SFHA's partnership with CSIC can help the sector to grasp."

Rohan Bush, Head of Public Partnerships & Future Workforce at CSIC, added: "Imagine a world where new build social housing is even more energy efficient and high quality. Imagine an industry where waste is segregated using smart sensor technology and materials are delivered at the right time to avoid damages and defects. A world where fuel bills are low due to the quality and affordability of low carbon and sustainable building methods.

"Dream big – imagine as many daring innovations as you can to improve the built environment and the way housing associations procure, build and maintain housing.

"How about a forward-thinking world where the people who are responsible for the future vision of housing and the people who build the houses collaborate and innovate together?

"The launch of the strategic partnership between the SFHA and CSIC aims to make this vision of collaboration and innovation a reality."

(CM)