Dundee to outline £350m capital plan and agree investment plan for 1,000 affordable homes

A near £350 million Dundee building programme for the next five years is set to be outlined in a council report as councillors also prepare to agree plans to build more than 1,000 affordable new homes between now and 2021.The capital plan covering 2019-24 includes projects including the Waterfront, additional nursery accommodation, Menzieshill community centre, improvements to Camperdown Park, affordable and wheelchair housing and the Regional Performance Centre for Sport.The plan will be discussed by Dundee City Council’s policy and resources committee on Monday November 19.Monday will also see councillors on neighbourhood services committee consider the council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP).The SHIP 2019-24 sets out the affordable housing investment priorities of the council and its partners for the next five years including a particular needs housing target of up to 30% of the total built.The plan also highlights the “good progress” being made towards “delivering high quality, energy efficient new build social rented housing”.The SHIP commits the council to working with partners to ensure that all new build properties constructed as part of the programme meet or surpass the current building regulations.Energy efficiency measures such as insulation, solar energy, wind power or other suitable measures will also be integrated to help reduce carbon emissions, address fuel poverty and ensure that tenants live in warm, affordable homes.A scheme that could help owners of former council houses to pay for energy saving measures including external wall insulation is also set to be discussed.The cost of the specialist cladding has so far put it out of reach of owner occupiers in some houses types in Dryburgh, St Marys, Fintry and West Kirkton but the proposals before next week’s neighbourhood services committee could change that.A pilot equity release scheme introduced by the Scottish Government has been extended to Dundee.It would let homeowners borrow money against the value of their property without the need for any ongoing repayments. The loan is paid back when they sell the property or when the last applicant dies.Up to now structural issues in non-traditional houses have meant they need a specialist insulation product which costs up to £26,000.Under the scheme a loan can be taken out for a variety of energy saving measures including (EWI), as well as any up-front repairs needed to allow them to go ahead.A maximum of £40,000 can be borrowed as long as it is not more than 50% of the property’s market value. The owner must retain 30% equity in their property and because the scheme is backed by the Scottish Government it is them that will own the stake in the resident’s property.