News

A £24 million heating district network which will help to tackle fuel poverty has opened in Glenrothes. Designed by engineers WSP, the new low carbon heating system is the first 100% renewable, large-scale district heating network in Scotland.

Novus Property Solutions has been appointed to a £500,000 framework for East Lothian Council which will see the contractor complete medical adaptions work in homes for vulnerable residents. The five-year agreement includes modifying bathrooms with works covering minor replacements as well as f

Shelter Scotland campaigns & policy officer, Aoife Deery, discusses the Scottish Government’s consultation on its plans to change the rules around local connection and intentionality with regards to homelessness. The last time I blogged about the Scottish Government’s new plan to end

Shetland Islands Council has approved a £300,000 loan to BA Builders (Shetland) Ltd to allow the building firm to construct more homes. The loan will help to build up to 13 modern and energy-efficient homes in rural areas, which supports the council's strategic objectives to encourage people t

The total amount of derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland has decreased by 716 hectares (6%) in the latest year, according to Scotland's Chief Statistician. The latest annual statistics found that the extent of vacant and derelict land in Scotland has fallen from 11,753 hectares in 2017 to 11,0

Laura Brennan, trainee solicitor at Govan Law Centre, explains the pitfalls of giving equity away to a quick home buy company in times of financial distress. Our recent Sheriff Appeal Court case of Santander -v- C emphasises the importance of homeowners seeking legal advice should their mortgage len

The Angus Integration Joint Board (IJB) has approved the 2019-2022 Strategic Commissioning Plan and the priorities for health and social care in the region. The three-year plan outlines the ambitions for how adult health and social care services will continue to integrate and how Angus Hea

The national movement of local charities which placed sculpture exhibitions in UK train station to raise awareness of youth homelessness has recently launched phase two of the campaign. The #NOWYOUSEEME campaign by End Youth Homelessness (EYH) depicts the stories of three homeless young people

Inksters Solicitors donated £200 to Social Bite after a consultant asked the law firm to donate her fee to good causes. Catherine Brys, who delivered a customer excellence workshop for Inksters staff, asked the firm to donate part of the fee to Social Bite and the other part to the Cyclone Ida

Edinburgh's Capital Credit Union has reported a near 50% increase in new members for the first half of this financial year, compared to 2017/18. Capital has also reported a sharp increase in lending in both personal loans and mortgages for the first two quarters of the year.

Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) director David Bookbinder issues a defence of volunteer-based governance models. Mike Bruce’s article on paying housing association board members was thoughtfully put together, but, as I’m sure he’ll have expected, c

Plans to build 55 affordable new council homes on the site of the former primary school site in Dumbarton have been approved by councillors. The 1.9-acre area has been empty since the former Aitkenbar Primary School was demolished in 2016, following its relocation to a purpose built shared campus ne

Staff and tenants from Dumfries & Galloway Housing Partnership (DGHP) have transformed a disused garden area into a fun and unique space for people of all ages. The area behind flats and shops in Lincluden had become a magnet for antisocial behaviour over the years and families were no longer us

A couple from Milngavie are helping to transform the lives of older people in their area by proving how enjoyable life in retirement can be. Gina and Robert Howieson have been praised by their fellow tenants at Bield’s Oakburn Gardens for their positive attitudes towards socialising and stayin

Claire Frew, policy & impact manager at the Homeless Network, provides the first of four blogs in the lead up to Scotland’s major Housing First conference on 22 May 2019. In just four weeks’ time people will come together from all over Scotland and beyond for the third annual Housing