Here's the shape new housing will take in North Lanarkshire

Members of North Lanarkshire Council have approved an ambitious and varied plan which spells out the authority’s social housing priorities up to 2026.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Feb 2021, 15:44 BST
Motherwell Civic CentreMotherwell Civic Centre
Motherwell Civic Centre

The council’s Housing and Regeneration committee endorsed the plan which covers various projects including a target of 1,730 new homes in this periodNumerous homes are also to be constructed as part of the council’s plans for town centre regeneration across North Lanarkshire, with key sites including the the former YMCA building in Motherwell.The council is also running the largest “buy back” scheme in Scotland, which seeks to purchase former council properties from private ownership and return them to social rent.

Since 2010, 100 homes have been obtained, including several at Ravenscraig.Connectivity is also an important aspect of the plans, with the council pledging that by 2023 “enabling technologies” will be included as standard in new homes.

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And a pilot scheme will be implemented at the Kerr Grieve Court retirement complex here Motherwell.Climate change and fuel poverty are also shaping strategy, with the council having previously pledged to be net zero for carbon emissions by 2030 and also to also significantly reduce the number of residents currently living in fuel poverty. This is believed to presently be as high as one third of the social housing sector which also has carbon emissions almost twice as high as the UK average.During the meeting Councillor Alan Valentine asked about proposals to dispose of void properties and the the present levels of energy efficiency in North Lanarkshire homes as homes which do not meet the minimum standard cannot be rented out.A further, stricter energy efficiency standard requires that by 2032 homes attain even better levels of energy efficiency.

Currently only around four per cent of existing council homes meet this standard and it is thought that almost half are unable to attain it.A council officer clarified that the council would be unable to re-let houses which were below the required energy efficiency minimum but existing tenants would be able to remain in those properties.

The committee agreed unanimously to approve the plans.

Related topics:North Lanarkshire CouncilYMCAScotland

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