North Lanarkshire Council has been approved for the next stage of its Strategic Housing Investment Plan, which will now be submitted to the Scottish government.

The Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2022/23 – 2026/27, aims to deliver 2,671 new affordable homes, over the next five years, regenerating and investing in our communities and town centres, bringing benefits to the local economy and improving the lives of our tenants and residents.

New priorities have been identified across the area and are now being added to previously agreed projects and will help meet local housing need. These projects will be delivered by the council and registered social landlords, supported by funding from the Scottish Government.

Identified in the plan are affordable housing investment priorities which support the Local Housing Strategy objectives and include: delivering a range of housing to support varied needs across the area; ensuring homes are accessible; are environmentally friendly and helping to regenerate our communities and town centres.

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Councillor Heather Brannan-McVey, Convener of Housing and Regeneration, said: "We've identified new priorities which will see 641 affordable homes approved and added to our SHIP plan. This allows us to reach our new housing supply targets and meet local housing need.

"These new homes will be built to modern standards and help reduce inequality. Our homes will be more energy efficient, contributing to the reduction in CO2 emissions and will be built to Housing for Varying Needs standards – making them more accessible for anyone with a mobility difficulty.

"The roll out of the plan is continually reviewed, and together with Registered Social Landlords we're delivering homes that are supporting our tenants and residents by being energy efficient, affordable and accessible, while improving our local communities and town centres and boosting the local economy."

The SHIP forms the basis of the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme, which is administered by the Scottish Government and provides grant funding for the council's and housing associations' new supply programmes. The current grant level for council new build projects is £59,000 per unit – this level is currently under review.