Falkirk Council is set to consider a plan that could deliver nearly 1,000 new affordable homes across the Falkirk area over the next five years.

The Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2026–2031, due to be discussed at an Executive meeting on Thursday, 9 October 2025, sets out how 940 affordable homes could be delivered between 2026 and 2031. If approved, this figure would exceed the annual target set in the Local Housing Strategy.

The SHIP proposes new-build developments focusing on larger family homes and wheelchair-standard properties. All new homes would be built to meet the Scottish Government’s New Build Heat Standard, ensuring they are energy efficient and help reduce carbon emissions.

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The plan incorporates multiple delivery methods:

• New Build: Focused on sites across the Falkirk area.

• Buy-Backs: Continuing to purchase former Council houses sold under Right to Buy, concentrating on high-demand areas and larger properties.

• Empty Homes: Supporting the Council’s Empty Homes Plan, which aims to bring 70 empty properties back into use each year, including a new grant pilot scheme for affordable rent renovations.

Falkirk Council's allocation from the Scottish Government to support affordable housing is set to rise to £13.2 million in 2025/26, an increase from the £10.27m received in the previous period. This will be complemented by Council investment, housing association finance, and developer contributions.

The Council has also secured £2.39 million from the Housing Infrastructure Fund to unlock three housing sites in Denny and Bonnybridge through improvements at Junction 7 of the M80.

Karen Algie, Director of Transformation, Communities and Corporate Services, stated: "If agreed, this plan would represent a major investment in high-quality, affordable housing... By combining new build homes, buy-backs and work with partners, we can make progress towards nearly a thousand additional homes over the next five years."

The SHIP is designed to support wider Council priorities including reducing homelessness, supporting child poverty reduction, and tackling climate change.