Edinburgh Council outlines housing objectives

A nine point action plan has outlined how Edinburgh City Council plans to reduce the cost of living for tenants and build more affordable homes in the next ten years.

The City Housing Strategy Update report outlines the significant progress made on the strategy to date, as well as confirming the nine point plan for the next decade.

If successful, the plan will see the council build at least 16,000 more affordable and low cost homes by investing nearly £2 billion in their delivery, and accelerate housing development on public sector sites and investment in other public service priorities in the city and region.

The plan will also ensure investment in new homes and modernise existing homes to reduce the cost of living for people on low to moderate incomes who live in them, and account that planning, investment and economic strategies set at regional and national level support the delivery of an improved housing system for the city.

Cllr Cammy Day, housing leader at the council, said: “Approving this vision for further consultation is great news not just for our tenants and future tenants but for the city as a whole. Inequality, high housing costs, and high levels of need and demand are ongoing challenges that the council has to tackle.

“This report shows the fantastic work being done so far in meeting our overall aims for housing in Edinburgh which is increasing the number of affordable and low cost homes in the city and reducing the cost of living for tenants.

“It is a challenge faced in many cities but Edinburgh is working well with our partners. The extent of investment in new affordable and low cost homes, coupled with the strategy to reduce the cost of living for tenants, provides an excellent opportunity for the city to achieve better community benefits and more employment and training opportunities for communities and tenants.”