The City of Edinburgh Council has held collaborative summit with key partner organisations to explore avenues for expanding the availability of accessible housing across the capital.

The Accessible Housing Summit, hosted by the council, brought together representatives from the third sector, housing associations, and the private sector. The focus of the event was to discuss and develop strategies aimed at building new accessible homes, enhancing access to existing properties, and optimising the use of the current housing stock.

Discussions were organised into three core roundtable sessions, allowing participants to thoroughly examine these crucial aspects of housing accessibility. The summit's agenda was informed by the findings of the 2022 Accessible Housing Study, as well as feedback gathered from tenants, residents, and partner organisations during consultations on the council’s draft Local Housing Strategy.

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In a tangible step towards increasing the number of accessible homes, the council has recently begun construction on a new residential development in the Newington area. This project, once completed, will deliver 19 contemporary homes for social rent, all designed to be fully wheelchair accessible.

Looking to the future, attendees will now deliberate on practical measures to improve access to information and guidance on accessible housing, alongside formulating strategies for the future development of accessible homes within Edinburgh.

Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, the City of Edinburgh Council's Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, underscored the increasing demand for accessible housing: "As Edinburgh’s population grows and changes, so too do the housing needs of our residents. It is therefore imperative that we strive to ensure everyone – regardless of their health circumstances and accessibility requirements – has a home where they can live with dignity and comfort."

She also recognised the unique challenges faced by Edinburgh: "While this is a national issue, the City of Edinburgh Council faces particular challenges, notably our role as landlord for a significant number of older, flatted properties, which can often present greater difficulties and costs when it comes to adaptation."

Councillor Cameron stressed the necessity of partnership working: "It is crucial that we understand the nature, context, and complexity of the obstacles to providing fully accessible housing and that we work closely and collaboratively with our partners and the organisations leading this vital work to deliver the accessible housing that our citizens need both now and in the years to come."