The Dunedin Canmore Group is pleased to join in the discussion about new ideas to "get housing right". As one of the main builders of affordable housing in Edinburgh, and as a significant housing developer and landlord in the Lothians, we have a lot of experience to bring to the table. But, we're wise enough to know we can always improve - and we hope we'll continue to do so.
We'd like to see ideas from central and local government leading the way in making the development process more streamlined and effective. Some specific points we'd like to add into the discussion are that:
- Taxation relief could be considered for regeneration projects and improvement to existing stock for both the SHQS and potential climate change works required.
- The uncertainty of the Section 75 planning requirements (tax) so that housing associations are not treated as developers and tenants rents are not used to subsidise non housing infrastructure costs.
- The necessity, due to charitable law restrictions to provide mid market rents through subsidiaries when we are providing affordable housing for the benefit of the community.
- There are also major bureaucracy issues and management costs relating to the planning process, infrastructure funding and double scrutiny of projects that could be streamlined.
- The restriction related to the 20 year lease and standard security rules and the difficulties and restrictions in allocating houses to create sustainable communities excludes a number of client groups.
The innovation of housing associations has been held back by regulation but we do not lack ideas. Dunedin Canmore has been at the forefront of new finance initiatives, built up strong relationships with the private sector for development and turned round run down mixed tenure estates following stock transfer from both Scottish Homes and local authorities.
We, and many other housing associations, are a valuable resource with ideas, expertise and the track records to make things happen in innovative ways. But we need central and local government to take some radical steps to make better use of the resources open to them.