CIH Scotland reacts to the Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan

The Scottish Government published the Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) 2021/22- 2025/26 on 4 February. The IIP sets out spending plans for affordable housing supply, energy efficiency and decarbonisation of heat.

The IIP announced a total budget of £3.3 billion for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) over the next five years.

Callum Chomczuk, National director, CIH Scotland said:

“While we are pleased that funding for affordable housing has been maintained at approximately the same level we have seen over the last five years, this constitutes a real terms cut in funding. This comes at a time when social landlords are expected to invest significantly in improvements to existing homes and continue building new homes to higher standards of space and adaptability, energy efficiency and connectivity while keeping rents affordable.  

“The reality is that the £3.3 billion outlined in the Infrastructure Investment Plan will deliver fewer homes, poorer quality homes, or require social housing tenants to make up the shortfall through rent increases.

“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government to explore how the housing sector can work more creatively to deliver the homes we need and how we might lever in the additional funding required to achieve this. If we are to tackle homelessness, reduce poverty and meet climate change targets, we need to invest in housing and we must deliver 53,000 social and affordable homes over the next five years.”