Let’s Talk Pencil-Pusher: Lesson I—Bob the Builder (First of a series, translating bureaucrat-speak into what it really means for the folk in East Lothian)

Ever since Mrs T handbagged councils into selling off homes, our crisis in affordable housing has grown. East Lothian Council had quality homes on decent estates; after 25 years, over 12,000 of  20,000 were sold. In that time barely 100 were built. Homeless legislation distorted waiting lists to over 4,000 until non-‘vulnerable’ (i.e. ordinary folk) stood nae chance.

In a press release over the weekend, the SNP Government committed to “invest in record levels of council house building, with funding for 5,000 council houses supporting 8,000 jobs in the next Parliament”. Sounds good; but what does that mean to us here?

In less than four years, your local SNP has completed 100 houses, with 300 more under construction across East Lothian and 800 more in planning. Most will be allocated to existing tenants of good standing and revised laws will keep them publicly owned.

More importantly, this will de-constipate allocation so that sons or daughters can find homes in their home town, empty-nesters can down-size more easily and even priority need clients should benefit by being housed closer to their family and support system.

ELC Affordable Housing Strategy is available at:  http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=917&documentID=309