Glasgow private housing estates must contain 'affordable 'social homes, union demand

A tenants union is calling for private housing estates in Glasgow to include a number of social rent homes - in line with other parts of Scotland.

Living Rent have held a number of protests demanding the council roll out the Scottish National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) policy and enforce a minimum threshold of 25 per cent affordable housing in all new developments.

But Glasgow City Council said almost half of all homes being built in the city are already affordable, which is a higher rate than anywhere else in the country.

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Living Rent argues that the "proliferation of luxury-branded, build-to-let developments raise rents and further gentrification in Glasgow neighbourhoods."

The union said it held a protest outside Glasgow City Chambers yesterday as its chair gave a deputation to Glasgow City Council’s Economy, Housing, Transport and Regeneration City Policy Committee to call on the council to implement the NPF4.

Living Rent City Chair Bianca Lopez said: “Glasgow City Council declared a housing emergency last year but have since failed to take meaningful action to address the issue.

“Decades of under investment in social housing, an out of control private sector and the prioritisation of luxury developments have resulted in rents being pushed up to astronomic levels across the city, trapping tenants in insecure, unsafe, expensive and undignified housing.

“We know the money exists to build the housing Glasgow needs. Implementing the NPF4 would bring much-needed affordable housing to the city and has the potential to help alleviate the housing crisis.

“The council has the power to force developers to provide much-needed social housing and the responsibility to do so for the well being and safety of the people of Glasgow - our communities need affordable homes, not more luxury developments.”

Other councils around the country enforce the policy that stipulates private developments must contain an element of social housing.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Almost half of all homes built in Glasgow in recent years - a trend that will continue for the foreseeable future - are affordable, well above the 25 per cent target set in the NP4 policy and higher than any other local authority in Scotland. Our affordable housing policy is guided by the need for such homes in the city, with targets based on Glasgow’s Local Development Plan.”

Over the past five years, Glasgow delivered more new build affordable homes than any other local authority in Scotland - 47 per cent of total new-build homes completed.

The council is preparing its next city development plan and an evidence report has been prepared relating to housing need and demand including affordable housing.

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