£44m goes into city housing

A RECORD £44 million will be invested in the city’s housing this year.

This marks the first steps forward since tenants rejected the Better Homes for Edinburgh proposal last year.

Edinburgh faces major challenges and uncertainties on the housing front, but we’re determined to press ahead to improve housing conditions in the city.

To make sure the city meets the Scottish Housing Quality Standard in all of its council homes by 2015, we must concentrate on two things – making improvements to existing homes and, where this is impossible, the demolition of some housing stock.

From 2007, over a period of around six years, about 1,300 homes that are not suitable for improvement are likely to be demolished at a cost of around £15m.

Subject to local views, the affected areas will be Gracemount High Flats, North Sighthill, Royston/Wardieburn, Pennywell and Leith Fort.

Existing tenants will be rehoused in permanent secure tenancies.

We plan to work with partners to rebuild on the cleared sites, but the final shape and timescale of development will remain unclear until a package of funding can be put together.

It is clear we now need more money to build new affordable housing and we’re currently in discussions with the Scottish Executive about this.

In the meantime, we’re continuing with this year’s improvement programme and consulting with residents in the affected areas.

£44 million will be invested during 2006/07 to improve housing, including:
• 1,400 new kitchens and bathrooms the upgrading and replacement of 740 windows, including double-glazing
• 2,250 new external doors and door-entry systems
• rewiring of 1,250 homes and work on electrical safety
• energy efficiency programmes via the Warmburgh scheme
• upgrading of lifts, ventilation, CCTV and concierge services
• adaptations for elderly and disabled people
• £3.2 million for Area Boards and local priorities.