North Lanarkshire Council has outlined its affordable housing investment priorities in its Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP).

The five-year plan has now been submitted to the Scottish Government and helps them effectively target resources for the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP), to deliver new and improved housing to meet local priorities.

Most of the new affordable housing will be delivered by Registered Social Landlords (Housing Associations) and will predominantly be for rent. The funding is allocated and administered by the Scottish Government based on the priorities set out in the SHIP.

The plan outlines how projects are prioritised within the context of the Local Housing Strategy and anticipated available resources. It also includes details of other investment that supports the delivery of affordable housing provision within North Lanarkshire, such as the council's own new build proposals.


The SHIP is an integral part of the wider Local Housing Strategy which sets out the council's four main investment priority themes:

• Addressing housing requirements - ensuring sufficient supply of houses in the size and type that people want, where they want to live and that they can afford
• Developing appropriate housing and related services to promote community regeneration
• Improving stock conditions and energy efficiency, helping to reduce fuel poverty
• Assisting people with particular needs by ensuring there is a range of house sizes and types available with appropriate support to meet the requirements of people with particular needs.

"All councils are required to submit their SHIP which shows how affordable housing investment priorities detailed in the Local Housing Strategy are to be delivered in practice", explained Councillor Barry McCulloch, Convener of the Housing and Social Work Services Committee.

"Our plan also contains details of our contribution to meeting the need for additional affordable accommodation through our new build proposals – which are progressing well.

"The current Affordable Housing Investment Programme allocation is £14.6m but the budget for future years isn't known, and therefore depending on actual available resources, the programme as set out in the SHIP is likely to have to be adjusted," he said.

(GK/JM)