£527million housing investment programme to help build 7,500 homes in Glasgow

Published: 2 November 2023

The £527million Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2024/25 - 2028/29 for Glasgow was approved today (2 November). The city's SHIP - which sets out the priorities and resource requirements for investment in the city's affordable housing supply over a five-year period - will see more than 7,500 affordable homes built in Glasgow during that period through 185 development projects.

The SHIP aims to deliver on the vision and strategic priorities set out in Glasgow's Housing Strategy, which include:

• Reducing homelessness and the number of households currently living in emergency and temporary accommodation
• Increasing the supply of affordable family housing
• Contributing towards reducing the number of children living in poverty
• Meeting the increasing demand from households that are registered on RSL waiting lists
• Supporting refugee households living in Glasgow
• Responding to pressures that are being experienced across the city's private rented sector market including a reduction in letting activity and an increase in the cost of rents
• Meeting the forecast changes to the demographics of Glasgow's population including a projected 22.3% increase in the number of people who will be aged 65 years and older by 2032

Amongst the priorities for new housing developments delivered through the SHIP is that 10% of all new homes in developments of 20 units and above will be wheelchair readily adaptable; and 60 new family-sized homes with three or more bedrooms are built each year.

The Glasgow Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2024/45 - 2028/29 can be found here.

Challenges remain in the delivery of affordable housing, not least the 56% rise in costs to do so since 2018, and the impact of high interest rates. The SHIP will also support adaptation work in homes to allow independent living.

It is expected that 80.7% of the new homes to be built through the SHIP funding will be social-rent housing, with 18.5% mid-market rent and 0.8% shared equity.

Glasgow's SHIP was developed by Glasgow City Council in consultation with housing associations, private developers, the voluntary sector, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership and other organisations. The city has the capacity - if more resources were available - to deliver more homes to meet the considerable housing pressures in Glasgow.

Councillor Kenny McLean, City Convener for Housing at Glasgow City Council, said: "Glasgow's Strategic Housing Investment Plan is very important for the city, paving the way to build 7,500 new affordable homes and meet other key housing needs between 2024 and 2029. New affordable housing is key not only to the quality of life of the residents, but the standard of the environment in our communities and its contribution to Glasgow's economic growth."