Housing plan could see Renfrewshire deliver 2,000 new homes

Renfrewshire Council has unveiled the final version of a housing investment master plan which could see the area deliver more than double its target of building 1,000 new affordable homes by 2020.

Councilors will next week be asked to approve the area’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP), which will see at least £30m of grant funding directed towards building new homes over the next five years.

The SHIP is the document which lays out the priority affordable housing projects in Renfrewshire – either planned or under way – over the years ahead, for the council and housing associations.

Since 2011, Renfrewshire Council and its housing association partners have overseen the building of 950 new homes in the area

That means the 1,000-homes target will be hit years ahead of schedule – and if all projects in the new version of the SHIP are delivered it will have been more than doubled.

Local authorities need to submit an updated version to the Scottish Government every two years to access central funding for affordable housing projects.

The plan was produced after consultation with local and national housing associations.

Councillor Tommy Williams, convener, of Renfrewshire Council’s Housing and Community Safety Policy Board, said: “One of the biggest priorities of the council is to help provide good-quality homes people can afford to live in.

“The Strategic Housing Investment Plan shows which projects we and our housing association partners are already delivering in that area, as well as the ones we plan to achieve.

“In line with other key council planning and housing strategies, the plan aims to make sure any new housing development is of the right kind and in the right place.

“Renfrewshire’s target was 1,000 new homes between ourselves and our housing association partners by 2020 – we will hit that years ahead of schedule and if all the projects outlined in this plan are delivered over the next few years, we will have more than doubled it.”

The following projects are detailed in the plan and will amount to more than 800 new homes over the next few years –
– redevelopment of Paisley’s west end, starting with the former Co-op site on Wellmeadow Street, by Sanctuary Scotland;
– around 200 affordable homes in the Bishopton Community Growth Area;
– 200 new affordable homes at two sites in Renfrew, at Andrew Avenue and the Western Park site in Inchinnan Road;
– around 100 new council homes for social rent in Johnstone Castle;
– 47 new homes and flats in Seedhill Road, Paisley, delivered by Williamsburgh HA;
– 24 flats built by Link Group in Smithhills Street, Paisley, as part of the next phase of development on the former Arnotts site;
– 18 social rented homes by Williamsburgh HA in Milliken Road, Kilbarchan;
– comprehensive improvements to tenements in Orchard Street, Paisley;

The plan also lists other potential future projects which could add another 500 units, including the proposals for housing regeneration in Ferguslie Park, connected to plans for a regional sports village next to the Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Affordable housing includes a range of options for people who are looking for a home to rent or buy: new council homes for rent, housing association homes for rent, low-cost home ownership/shared equity schemes and intermediate/mid-market rental.

Councilors on the Housing and Community Safety Policy Board will discuss the finalised SHIP when they meet on Tuesday 8 November.