Scottish council unveils 2,000 social housing plan

Aberdeen City Council has developed plans to significantly increase the number of social homes in the region.Aberdeen has approved plans to build thousands more social homes after agreeing its Housing Revenue Account budget.Priorities for revenue and capital spending were set, with a £40m programme of upgrades to existing council properties also approved.As part of the 2019/20 budget a 4.3% rise in council rents was agreed.This will support investment in upgrades to properties, with the programme for the year ahead including more than £5m to be spent on window replacements, £4.5m on renewing heating systems and £2.75 million on improving insulation.Millions more will be invested in areas including lift replacements, modernising bathrooms and kitchens, electrical improvements and enhanced safety measuresThe council recently adopted an updated buyback policy, with the purchase of former council homes to return to the rental stock part of the wide-ranging housing strategy.The HRA budget is funded by the income from council house rents and associated fees and charges.