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Homes for Scotland, the industry body representing Scotland’s home builders, today welcomed the Court of Session’s ruling on the legal challenge to the Fife Structure Plan. Head of Planning Strategy Blair Melville (right) said that while anyone had a right to challenge the statutory planning process, the most important thing in the current difficult economic climate was clarity to guide investment in Fife. He continued: “What the objectors fail to acknowledge is that North-East Fife has a huge unmet demand for all types of housing, including affordable housing. It is not acceptable, in our view, to say that people’s fundamental need for a roof over their heads should be disregarded. The role of Fife Council as planning authority is to balance conflicting views and make decisions which benefit Fife as a whole. “Meeting housing needs in North East Fife is a critical objective, as is providing everyone with certainty as to where that will happen. Only then will the private sector increase investment in Fife, creating employment in construction and supporting local businesses. “Unrealistic views that only affordable housing should be built fail to understand the limits on public subsidy and to realise that it is predominantly the private sector which will deliver all types of housing in the future. An approved Structure Plan is a key step in enabling investment in Fife’s future. We hope that the Council can now press ahead with a robust Local Plan which can deliver this and much-needed housing for its communities.” Ends Notes to Editors: Homes for Scotland represents the country’s home building industry which, prior to the onset of the credit crunch,:
Half the industry's directly employed jobs have already been lost and Scottish new build housing output has plummeted, presenting far-reaching and long-term social and economic consequences.
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