NewsArticle-10-10-2011

In response to the Scottish Government’s Innovation Fund, which for the first time challenged the private sector to join traditional providers in bidding for funding to aid the delivery of new affordable homes at a lower cost to the public purse, industry body Homes for Scotland has brought together a number of home builders and housing associations to analyse how winning bids work out in practice.

The group, which has the support of the Scottish Government, aims to foster positive relationships between the sectors and provide detailed analysis of how joint working and new ways of thinking can achieve more effective funding and delivery mechanisms.

Homes for Scotland Chief Executive Jonathan Fair (right) said:

“Traditional models for the delivery of housing in Scotland are no longer appropriate in the economic climate we now all have to operate in. This is why it is so important that we think differently about how we can provide the housing that our country desperately needs. Our project team will therefore be seeking to work closely with those involved to take forward sector-wide recommendations for the Scottish Government to consider.”

Housing Minister Keith Brown said: 

“I was delighted with the bids received to the Innovation and Investment Fund, and last month the Government announced £11.9m of investment through this Fund to deliver 609 affordable homes.

“Using only conventional models cannot deliver all the homes we need. So it’s vital we build on the ideas from the Innovation Fund, and other ideas, to encourage continuing innovation. I congratulate Homes for Scotland for launching this study.”