Elected Member Briefing Note 2023, Issue 54
About this briefing note
Report by: Elaine Ritchie, Senior Service Manager, Housing
Date: 29 March 2023
Subject: Update on Housing in Rural Perth & Kinross - Community Led Affordable Housing
Responsible Officer: Andy Saum, Team Leader, Housing Strategy Team
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an update to members with oversight of affordable housing issues in rural Perth & Kinross and a summary of how PKC and its partners are working with rural communities to tackle affordable housing challenges.
We issued a previous briefing to members in August 2022, which provided background, context and progress about the provision of rural affordable housing.
Briefing Information
PKC/Communities Housing Trust (CHT) - Partnership Working
Housing Needs Assessment Programme (HNAP) and Community-Led Housing Support Programme (CLHSP)
Housing Needs Assessment surveys that comprised the HNAP, supported by £20,000 of funding from Perth & Kinross Council via affordable housing commuted sums, have now been completed in the five rural communities that were initially targeted.
As previously indicated, these surveys provide detailed and robust housing needs/demand data that is required to unlock capital funding, mainly from the Rural Housing Fund, to deliver new affordable homes within the current term of the fund.
All five reports are included to this Briefing Note below. It is highlighted that there are clear similarities in housing need and demand that emerged from the surveys in each of the five communities surveyed.
The CHT submitted a further proposal to the Council in August 2022 to secure funding for a follow-up to the HNAP - the Community Led Housing Support Programme - to run until 2026. Funding for the Year 1 of the proposal has been identified from the Scottish Government via Council colleagues.
To date, the CHT has provided support and assistance to all five communities with a view to building capacity and co-producing community-led housing solutions. It has undertaken detailed appraisal and evaluation of the robust data obtained from the Housing Needs Assessment surveys.
The information in the survey reports provides a firm foundation for discussing requirements for community-led affordable housing strategies with the five communities identified.
The CHT, with support from our Affordable Housing Enablers, will work with communities to identify potential Community-Led Affordable Housing projects and develop these up to feasibility stage initially.
While progress with community-led affordable housing activities is evident in all five communities, the most significant progress has been made in Aberfeldy where the CHT has supported the community achieve some significant milestones.
The Aberfeldy Development Trust has been supported to secure approvals for feasibility funding from the Rural Housing Fund for two affordable housing projects, which have the potential to deliver up to 12 new affordable homes. Progress has also been made towards acquiring a development site from the Council for the larger of these projects.
In addition, Aberfeldy Development Trust has registered an interest in another potential project which would take forward a proposal for a further 10 new affordable homes in partnership with a Registered Social Landlord.
It is anticipated that this approach could be successfully replicated in the other four communities, where co-production of projects has begun but is at an earlier stage.
It is anticipated that, like Aberfeldy Development Trust, feasibility investigations will be funded through applications to appropriate funding bodies including the Rural Housing Fund.
Also in Highland, the CHT has supported Rannoch Community Development Trust on a proposal to develop a site that could deliver 12 new affordable homes in Kinloch Rannoch.
A feasibility study is now complete and proposals will be shared with the Rannoch community in May 2023. It is anticipated that a planning application will be made, along with an application to the Rural Housing Fund for capital funds.
Community-Led Affordable Housing Progress - March 2023
Strathardle - Strathmore & Glens Housing Market Area (HMA)
Community Partner | Mount Blair CDT (MBCDT) | |
HNAP Survey | Completed | December 2022 |
HNAP Report | Completed | March 2022 |
Next Steps | Potential development site(s) have been identified by MBCDT Further discussion planned between CHT/PKC and MBCDT Dev Officer with a view to registering interest and securing feasibility funding from SLF & RHF for AH development projects on identified sites | February 2023 April - June 2023 |
Comments |
|
Dunkeld & Birnam - Highland HMA
Community Partner | D&B CDT formed from affordable housing group out of CAP actions/during HNAP process | |
HNAP Survey | Completed | May 2022 |
HNAP Report | Completed | May 2022 |
Next Steps | D&B CDT has secured funds for Development Officer D&B CDT to discuss and agree AH strategy with CHT & PKC Further discussions planned between CHT/PKC and D&B CDT following meeting in January 2023
| May 2022 September 2022 April-June 2023 |
Comments | Acknowledged that identifying potential development sites is a significant challenge. Changes in D&B CDT composition has delayed progress/discussions |
Aberfeldy & Surrounding Areas - Highland HMA
Community Partner | D&B CDT formed from affordable housing group out of CAP actions/during HNAP process | |
HNAP Survey | Completed | May 2022 |
HNAP Report | Completed | May 2022 |
Next Steps | D&B CDT has secured funds for Development Officer D&B CDT to discuss and agree AH strategy with CHT & PKC Further discussions planned between CHT/PKC and D&B CDT following meeting in January 2023 | May 2022 September 2022 April-June 2023 |
Comments | Acknowledged that identifying potential development sites is a significant challenge. Changes in D&B CDT composition has delayed progress/discussions |
Comrie - Strathearn HMA
Community Partner | Aberfeldy CDT formed from affordable housing group out of CAP actions/during HNAP process | |
HNAP Survey | Completed | July2022 |
HNAP Report | Completed | August 2022 |
Next Steps | SG approved feasibility funds from RHF for refurbishment of 2 nr flats at Aberfeldy Town Hall SG approved feasibility funds from RHF for up to 10 new affordable homes at former Aberfeldy slaughterhouse site Good progress being made towards acquisition of former Aberfeldy slaughterhouse site from PKC and securing funds from SLF to acquire site Registration of interest from Aberfeldy CDT to partner with Hillcrest Homes to development up to 10 new affordable homes as part of Duntaylor Ave new build ACDT currently advertising Development Officer position ACDT to discuss and agree draft report and AH strategy with CHT & PKC | February 2023 March 2023 March 2023
March 2023 March 2023 |
Comments | Flats at Aberfeldy Town Hall
Former Slaughterhouse Site
Other potential opportunities also being explored with landowners |
Comrie - Strathearn HMA
Community Partner | Currently Comrie Community Land Use Group. Endorsed by Comrie CDT. | |
HNAP Survey | Completed | September 2022 |
HNAP Report | Completed | November 2022 |
Next Steps | Comrie CLU/CDT to arrange a public meeting to discuss report outcomes and discuss Community-Led AH Strategy CHT/PKC will input into meeting and next step discussions | May 2023
|
Comments | Indications that potential development sites/opportunities in and around Comrie |