Council bids to be part of scheme to create more affordable housing

Council bids to be part of scheme to create more affordable housing

Renfrewshire Council has put itself forward to be included in a national scheme to create more affordable housing in Renfrewshire.

The National Housing Trust Initiative (NHT) allows councils to join with developers to make new homes available for lower rent levels in areas where there is a shortfall of affordable housing.

Renfrewshire Council has told the Scottish Government that it would like to be considered for the next round which is due to start in September 2011.

If Renfrewshire is included, the council would team up with a private developer to build around 40 homes across the area. These will then be let to tenants on a Scottish Short Assured Tenancy for between five and 10 years, at ‘intermediate rents’ which are between the level of rents for social housing and private sector.

Councillor Kenny MacLaren, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Housing and Community Safety Policy Board, said: “In the current economic climate there are more people than ever struggling to find affordable homes and Renfrewshire Council is committed to tackling this locally.

“This scheme is designed to help create more new affordable homes and kick-start construction on housing developments which have stalled. It would provide homes for people on low or moderate incomes who aren’t priority applicants for social housing but also can’t afford to rent privately or buy their own homes. It is also an opportunity to do this at low financial risk to the council.

“We have put ourselves forward at this stage to be considered for the second phase of the programme and are hopeful that Renfrewshire will be included in the scheme.”

www.renfrewshire.gov.uk