This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Right to Buy suspended in South Ayrshire
10/02/2006
Ministers today agreed with South Ayrshire Council that part of its local authority area was 'pressured' for the purposes of the Right to Buy.
This means that some tenants within the designated areas will have the Right to Buy their rented council house suspended for five years. The Pressured Area option was introduced in 2001, to assist councils facing particular local pressures. It helps councils to continue to offer homes for affordable rent to people on low incomes in areas where the Right to Buy could otherwise lead to serious shortages.
The suspension of Right to Buy only applies to tenancies which commenced either on or after 30 September 2002. Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"Housing pressures vary across Scotland, and it is up to individual councils to consider whether it is appropriate to apply.
"This designation does not signal any change in our Right to Buy policy. The pressured area option has been available to local authorities for five years. South Ayrshire is the third council to have successfully applied and two more applications - Moray and Fife - are currently being considered.
"This shows that local authorities are looking carefully at affordable housing in their own areas and deciding that the pressured area option can help them. The Executive recognises that there are strong views about Right to Buy, but we will consider whether there is a case for further changes only when we have seen the evidence that will be collected on the effect of the policy and reported to Parliament this autumn."
The pressured area designation applies to 29 areas within South Ayrshire. The application sought the designation of a further 14 areas within the Council area but, after careful consideration, it was considered that insufficient evidence had been provided to support the designation of these areas. The designated area covers much of Prestwick and Ayr, as well as many rural settlements. It is estimated that a total of around 390 tenancies will be affected.
The pressured area designation granted to South Ayrshire Council lasts for five years.
The designation will affect 29 letting areas in South Ayrshire:
- Annpit, Craigie, Heathfield, Newton Green and Woodfield (all five are in Ayr North);
- Ayr Rural, Ayr South Central, Belmont Old, Belmont South, Forehill/Glencairn/Holmston and Kincaidston (all six are in Ayr South);
- Annbank (in Kyle)
- Crosshill, Dunure, Kirkmichael and Maidens (all four in North Carrick);
- Barr, Barhill, Colmonnell and Pinmore (all four are in South Carrick); and
- Eastfield, East Road, Glenburn, Marchburn, Monkton, Moorfield, Mossbank, Prestwick Central and Prestwick Toll (all nine are in Prestwick).
The first pressured area designation was granted in October 2005 to East Renfrewshire Council for the 'Eastwood' part of its area. The following month, the second was granted to Highland Council for a large part of the Highlands.
Right to Buy changed significantly when the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 reduced and capped discount levels, extended the qualifying period to five years and introduced the pressured area mechanism. The legislation also requires Scottish Ministers to report to Parliament on the effect of the Right to Buy by September 30 2006. The preparatory work for that evidence-based report is underway. Ministers have made clear that they will not consider the case for any further adjustments to the Right to Buy in advance of the report.