News

Jon Sparkes Crisis chief executive Jon Sparkes gives a summary of the stakeholder workshop held this week as part of the work of the Scottish Government’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group.

A rise in house-building drove an overall marginal increase in construction activity in Scotland during the final quarter of 2017, according to new figures. Both public and private sector house building activity was higher in the quarter, according to the balance of respondents to the quarterly Cons

River Clyde Homes teamed up with The Trust for a jobs fair in Port Glasgow which saw 142 people through the door in just two hours. The event was attended by a number of local employers as well as those providing training, apprenticeships and work experience, with around 70 people registering with c

Kenny Wilson performing a selection of Scottish songs Tenants at a Port Glasgow retirement development celebrated Burns’ Night in style with a fun filled day of dining, music and quizzes – all with a distinctly Scottish flavour.

South Lanarkshire Council has announced it is upgrading the Planning and Building Standards Service. New software is being installed to deliver a better and more efficient service, including a new portal for viewing planning and building standards applications online.

A new statutory Code of Practice for letting agents, which aims to improve standards and empower tenants, has come into force. Letting agents are required to join a register of letting agents, and key individuals in agencies must meet a minimum level of training. Should they fail to meet the standar

Scotland’s social landlords continue to show a strong commitment to accurate performance reporting, according to a new report published by the Scottish Housing Regulator. The Regulator’s Performance Matters data accuracy report summarises the findings of its work to assess the accuracy of the pe

Stirling Council has refused two applications from Persimmon Homes to develop land to the east of Plean around Cushenquarter Farm. Persimmon Homes was seeking permission to build 500 residential units, an access off the A9 Main Street and the erection of a primary school. Its application sought plan

The homes are planned for a site within the boundary of the Culloden (Battlefield) Conservation Area The Highland Council has deferred a decision on a planning application for 16 new homes at the site of Viewhill in Inverness to allow the developer to ensure the house designs “better reflect the H

Plans to replace the Gables Care Home in Forfar with a modern purpose-built supported housing complex for adults with learning disabilities have taken a significant step forward. Angus Council’s policy and resources committee yesterday approved a two-year project for the replacement of the old car

The UK’s financial watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has reached out to people with interest-only mortgages to urge them to contact their lender after discovering that many have still not sought guidance on their repayment options. Nearly one in five mortgage customers have an interes

Peebles householders, businesses and community groups can benefit from a new energy cost reduction project that has been launched in the town. Change Works in Peebles aims to reduce gas and electricity usage and energy bills, improve warmth in local homes and trial new approaches to improve energy e

A free online resource giving tenants and landlords a comprehensive guide to private renting in Scotland was officially relaunched yesterday following a total overhaul. RentingScotland.org has been redeveloped and launched by Shelter Scotland following a funding award of £43,500 from SafeDeposits S

Isobel and Davina French at the book launch A Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) sheltered housing tenant has shared memories of her father working as a whaler in a book about this long-lost industry.

Irvine High Street A Scottish Government assessment of North Ayrshire Council’s planning team has concluded that it provides the best service of any in Scotland.