RSS Press releases

In its Strategic Housing Investment Plan, the Council is committed to rehabilitating brownfield sites, regenerating empty buildings, and improving the sustainability of town centres.

The Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) sets out the Council's investment objectives for housing over a 5-year period, specifically affordable housing, and Gypsy/Traveller accommodation. The delivery of the SHIP makes a significant contribution towards Council priorities: establishing affordable homes that meet people’s needs will promote physical and mental wellbeing, the creation of sustainable communities and support the economic recovery from the pandemic.

The Scottish Government allocated over £82m to Dumfries and Galloway in the Resource Planning Assumption, which is augmented by development partners' own funding. Through this funding, the Council will focus on the development of high quality, energy efficient dwellings contributing to tackling a range of socio-economic challenges and providing secure homes for people living in the region.

The SHIP reinforces the Council's role as the strategic housing authority and informs Scottish Government investment decisions. A number of the Council's SHIP developments aim to regenerate empty buildings and contribute to the sustainability of town centres. They also help to address climate change by limiting urban sprawl. Rent affordability plays a crucial role in tackling poverty, and the SHIP aims to provide high quality homes at lower cost to residents. Due to the current economic crisis, the development of high-quality, affordable, and energy-efficient dwellings is essential to addressing socio-economic challenges.

As part of the consultation process with development partners, the following projects are seeking inclusion in the SHIP:

• The Merse, Kirkcudbright/Greenfield. 62 general needs homes.
• College Road, Dumfries/Brownfield. 15 properties to be developed with the Adult Health and Social Care Partnership for people with complex needs.
• Baird Drive, Sandhead. Extension to existing property to ease overcrowding issue.
• Meadow Park, Kirkcowan. Extension to existing property to provide ground floor bedroom and wet room.

By redeveloping these sites, it can help to reduce carbon emissions from transport and energy use, as well as green gas emissions from land-use change. It can also provide new green spaces and recreational areas for local communities and reduce the risk of flooding from urban runoff. The Council is actively seeking new private housebuilders to invest in Dumfries and Galloway. Housing schemes in Dumfries and Galloway have been supported by South of Scotland Communities Housing Trust.

The SHIP is a live document, subject to change, and includes a number of suitable pipeline developments. Strategic Housing have been working with development partners to identify opportunities in areas of demand. Further feasibility assessments are underway to help support future recommendations that will be brought back to Committee in due course.

Chair of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Economy and Resources Committee, Cllr Katie Hagmann, said: "The SHIP benefits have a broad scope. It is encouraging that housing associations are requesting SHIP inclusion for new developments. If Members agree to advance the proposed sites, they will not only provide much needed housing, but will also boost the local economy and construction industry. Through the development and implementation of the SHIP, our Council strives to ensure that these dwellings become an integral part of the region's infrastructure, offering improved quality of life for those that occupy them."

Vice Chair, Cllr Sean Marshall, who is also Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Strategic Housing Partnership, said: "The delivery of the SHIP makes a significant contribution to our Council’s current priorities, including our net-zero carbon emissions target and is also vital in supporting a programme of new affordable housing being built across our region. People will benefit from affordable homes that meet their physical and mental needs, as well as creating sustainable communities and supporting economic recovery after the pandemic. By boosting the construction industry and using surplus land to its fullest extent, our Council not only sets the strategic direction for the programme but also contributes to the region’s economic development."