How many affordable houses are estimated to be needed in Bearsden and Milngavie to meet housing shortages in that district which are the gr…

East Dunbartonshire Council, as the strategic housing authorityfor Bearsden and Milngavie, has statutory responsibility for assessing and addressing local housing marketneeds, including shortages of affordable housing in the area. In its mostrecent housing needs assessment (2005) it identified an annual need for an additional79 affordable units in Bearsden and eight in Milngavie over the next five yearsto 2010.
In our recently publisheddiscussion document, Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotlandwe have set out proposals for improving the supply and choice of affordable housingnationally. Last month’s Spending Review announcement set out plans to invest over£1.5 billion in affordable housing over the next three years. The Scottish Governmentexpects that this increased budget will deliver more new affordable homes – includingsocial rented houses and houses for low cost home ownership – than planned for 2005-08.Decisions have yet to be takenon the detailed composition of the affordable housing investment programme for thenew spending review period, 2008-11.