Extra money for affordable housing
SHETLAND Islands Council is in line to receive an extra £710,000 for affordable housing over the next two years.
It comes as the Scottish Government pledges an additional £80 million to the country’s local authorities for 2019-21 for housing.
Shetland had already been allocated £10.034 million for the next two years, but this has now been revised to £10.744 million.
The extra money is being made available on the basis of a needs based formula agreed with local government body COSLA in 2012.
The investment over the next two years – which now totals £1.3 billion across the country – comes as the Scottish Government aims to deliver 50,000 affordable homes by 2021.
The UK department for communities and local government previously defined a home as affordable if it costs no more than 3.5 times a person’s salary.
The Scottish Government’s affordable housing strategy includes social rent, mid-market rent and home ownership.
Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “We believe that everyone should be able to live in a warm affordable home.
“Our investment and delivery of affordable housing is the biggest since devolution and I am determined to see it benefit communities across Scotland.
“This investment backs up our ambitions with financial certainty. We will continue to work in partnership with councils and housing associations to deliver quality homes to meet local needs.”
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