Housing Budget Promises Investment and Improvements

Published

A commitment to provide new, affordable social housing and ongoing investment plans were the main aim of today’s (13 February) Housing budget set by Falkirk Council.
 
Falkirk Council agreed to create a total investment of £115m over the next three years and represents the highest level of investment Falkirk Council has ever achieved in its council properties.
 
The meeting agreed that more than £45m would be spent over the next three financial years on the construction of new affordable homes. Since its inception, the Council’s new build programme will see the completion of 338 new properties by 2014, with £25m spent on continuing a new build programme beyond 2014.
 
Plans for substantial investment were also unveiled with more than £55m allocated to providing Council home improvements over the next three years including:
 

  • £20.1m on external fabric improvements such as roughcasting and re-roofing;
  • £16m on replacement heating systems;
  • £11.1m on kitchen, bathroom and electrical improvements.
  • £1.5m on improving estates landscaping.

£10m will also be set aside for a property buy-back scheme over the next two years that will allow the purchase of between 120 and 140 former Council homes to help meet demand in particular areas.
 
The meeting also agreed that Council rent would be increased by 3.6% or £1.92 per week for the Council’s 16,000 tenants (though approximately 9,400 tenants are in receipt of housing benefit protecting them from the increase).  This followed a wide ranging consultation of the tenants and residents forum and the tenants’ newsletter.
 
Councillor Gerry Goldie, Convener of Housing and Social Care said: “Spending on improvements and repairs to our Council housing stock is the second highest in Scotland while still charging the third lowest rent across the country.
 
“We have prioritised where we believe we will make most impact in our communities and our new build programme will provide modern and energy efficient properties for hundreds of local residents.
 
“We are also investing a huge sum into improving our existing housing stock to ensure it meets national standards.
 
“There is still a lot of work to do however by keeping rents low and investment high, we are sure that we are on track to deliver good quality housing for all of our tenants.”