Angus Council approves five-year housing strategy

Angus Council’s communities committee has approved its Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) through which it is estimated that around 550 affordable homes could be built throughout the region over the next five years.The SHIP prioritises investment in new affordable housing across Angus, ensuring that the council continues to meet the demand for good quality affordable homes. A subsidy of around £31 million from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme is said to be required.The council said COVID-19 restrictions have severely impacted the building industry but added that its housing association and construction sector partners are determinedly continuing to deliver a full programme of new affordable housing in Angus.250 of the new homes will be built by the council, as part of its ambitious five-year new build programme, with funding of around £37m allocated from the Housing Capital Expenditure Plan 2019/24 to achieve this. Meanwhile, tenants have expressed high levels of satisfaction with Angus Council’s Housing Service.A recent customer satisfaction survey carried out by independent consultants Research Resource by phone, reported big improvements in how customers rate Angus Council as their landlord, across all areas of the service.More than 1000 tenants took part in the survey, a report to a meeting of the Communities Committee confirmed this week.88% of respondents said they are very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the overall service provided by the council. 86% are very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the value for money they get for their rent.The council’s Housing Service plays a vital role in helping to maintain the fabric and urban environment of the towns and villages across Angus. And so, it is hugely encouraging that 92% of respondents said they are very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the way Housing Service’s manage their neighbourhood.