New cash boost for housing in Glasgow

Housing in Glasgow is to benefit from £66.5 million next
year from Communities Scotland, the national housing support
organisation which replaced Scottish Homes last year.

The funding, for 2002-03, will be used to help complete 1,480
new and improved homes and allow work to start on a further 1,500
houses in the city. The money is to be matched by £42 million
from the private sector to target designated priority areas such as
Pollock, Govan and Easterhouse.

This funding is entirely separate from the financial benefits
tied into the recent decision to transfer Glasgow council’s
80,000 housing stock to the independent Glasgow Housing
Association. The transfer will see the city’s housing debt
wiped out by the Treasury, and over £4 billion invested in
housing over the next decade.

Iain Gray, minister for social justice, said: “The Scottish
executive is determined to modernise Scotland’s housing
stock, build sustainable communities and improve the quality of
people’s lives. The housing association movement is a key
partner in our drive to close the opportunity gap.”