A Scottish Government statement on the future of affordable housing investment was published yesterday backed by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Homes for Scotland.

In the light of the responses to the recent consultation on affordable housing, the statement outlines the five key proposals shaped by input from the wider housing sector:

Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of housing associations' activities across the board, including procurement:

• Setting a standard for development performance, which will in future be a requirement for receipt of Government subsidy.
• The award three-year budgets to those associations and groups of associations that are best placed to make use of it.
• Supporting collaborative groups as a way of bringing local authorities and housing associations together
• A new focus on sharing best practice.

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"The statement sets out how we intend to pursue these objectives, building on the experience, strengths and skills of the sector."

Councillor Harry McGuigan, COSLA's Community Safety and Wellbeing spokesman, added: "I'm pleased to add COSLA's support to today's statement. Local Authorities have a crucial role in increasing the supply of social housing. We want to continue the discussions around the country sharing good ideas and best practice."

(GK/JM)