Glasgow City Council has launched a consultation on its draft Local Housing Strategy, to look at the future of all of the city's housing across all tenures (2011-2016) and set a clear direction for investment in this sector.

The consultation runs until 18 December 2009, during which time responses and views are wanted from groups and individuals with an interest in Glasgow's housing sector; including home owners and tenants, people looking for a home, statutory agencies for health, transport and community planning, voluntary and charitable organisations, homelessness organisations, Local Housing Forums, social and private landlords and the general public.

This is the first major review of Glasgow's housing strategy since 2003 and is set against a backdrop of substantial changes in terms of the local economy, size and demographics of Glasgow’s population, and increased emphasis on climate change and sustainability.

-- Advertisement --

The recent global financial situation and credit crunch has numerous implications for housing, with many people finding themselves out of work and having trouble getting back into the labour market. This is already putting increasing pressure on the socially rented housing sector.

The downturn has also seen house buyers finding it increasingly difficult to get a mortgage, particularly first-time buyers who need to borrow a high percentage of the value of the house. In addition, the rate of new private housing developments in the city has also fallen.

Through its housing strategy, the Council hopes to strengthen links between people with housing needs, housing providers and lenders to ensure that these difficulties are recognised and addressed.

Executive member for housing, Councillor Elaine McDougall, said: "As the city's strategic housing authority we have a responsibility to set a clear direction for all housing tenures in Glasgow to ensure that the housing requirements of all our citizens, both now and in the future, are met.

"Given the predictions about how Glasgow will change over the next five to ten years and the financial setting we find ourselves in, the Council is looking to bring together a wide variety of responses to the consultation so that we can effectively meet people's housing needs with the resources we have available to us."

The LHS has a number of stages to go through before coming into effect during summer 2011. A series of LHS Workshops, open to stakeholders, on particular topics will be held over the year between October 2009 and October 2010.

(GK/KMcA)