Opinion

Planning minister Tom Arthur and chief planner Fiona Simpson have written to update stakeholders on aspects of the work programme, heading into the summer recess period. For all of us, we have been working through what has been a particularly busy and important time for Scotland’s planning sys

Susanne Flynn from CIH Scotland considers the role of housing in the Scottish Government's forthcoming health and social care strategy for older people. Many of us will need support at some time in our lives to be able to live independently, whether through illness, a disability, or as we get older

Steven Simpson from Cruden Homes (East) examines what lies ahead for the housing market, the challenges faced and meeting changing customer needs. Just last month Cruden Homes was amongst the winners at the annual Homes for Scotland Awards. Awards are always welcome, but they mean even more during t

In a guest blog for the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities, Moira Bayne discusses the accessibility of social housing allocation processes used by councils across Scotland, and the impact on people with learning disabilities. Housing is an important issue for many pe

Investment in social housing targets poverty, homelessness, net-zero and education and employment, argues Homeless Action Scotland (HAS) CEO Gavin Yates. The Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review has been well picked over. Launched on June 1, it attempted to square the circle of keepi

John Blackwood from the Scottish Association of Landlords considers the Covid Recovery Bill amendments and wider housing issues including the increase of landlords leaving the private rented sector. “We have had enough of experts” has become the mantra for poor policy decisions and

Ross Barty from PfH Scotland offers tips on how to deal with the volatile market conditions that are now having a very real impact on Scottish housing providers. Volatile market conditions are now having a very real impact on Scottish housing providers. Materials costs are climbing sharply, driven b

Following CIH Scotland's response to a consultation on revised draft guidance on from the Scottish Government, Ashley Campbell reiterates its call for more resources to deliver home adaptations. The right home, whether designed or adapted to meet specific needs, can support good

Simon Community Scotland's Megan Thomson details the sad loss of someone the charity's Intensive Outreach Support Team had been supporting for more than 10 years. We are always looking for good news stories and good outcomes to highlight the amazing work we do. Sadly today was not the day for t

As AIMCH, the UK's flagship collaborative R&D project, whose aim has been to develop, trial and scale up industrialised housing techniques ends, Stewart Dalgarno, its project director reflects on its achievements and predicts what’s next for the house building sector.

Derek Lennon from Akela Construction & Ground Engineering looks at the innovative techniques the firm is employing to help tackle the growing housing shortage. There is no silver bullet to the UK’s chronic housing shortage. Compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s an issue with

Mike Staples, chief executive at South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH), and Ronnie MacRae, chief executive at Communities Housing Trust (CHT), who have worked with hundreds of communities across Scotland, facilitating well over 1,000 affordable homes between them, continue their monthly series

Victoria Blair, senior solicitor at Burness Paull, on the benefits of housebuilding and the need for more investment in the sector. On 20th May the housebuilding sector got together for the first time in over two years at the flagship Homes for Scotland lunch. While providing a chance to network and

With a perfect storm of supply chain issues impacting repairs, Caledonia Housing Association's director of assets Andrew Kilpatrick reveals why expertise, approach, and ways of working are as key as the price when selecting a contractor partner. As we embrace post-pandemic life, social landlords as

Caroline Heenan, The Eric Liddell Community day service manager, discusses the need for dementia-friendly societies in the UK. There are an estimated 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland. Around 3,000 of these people will be under the age of sixty-five. Dementia Awareness Week can signific