The Scottish Government will consider bold proposals to create a new body dedicated to tackling the housing crisis in the Highlands and Islands.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney vowed to “look with care” at a suggestion made by the distinguished writer and academic, Jim Hunter, in his latest column for The P&J.
Mr Hunter called for the creation of a new Highlands and Islands Housing Authority, charged with delivering thousands of new homes in the region.
The award-winning author, who is emeritus professor of history at the University of the Highlands and Islands, said such an agency would have to be provided with the means to “get hold of the necessary land at the minimum possible price”.
A lack of affordable housing has become a crisis in parts of the Highlands and Islands in recent years, forcing young families away while accelerating depopulation and decline.
A lack of affordable housing continues to be one of the most serious issues for the Highlands and Islands, writes @JimHunter22, yet the SNP is ignoring obvious solutions.https://t.co/agQGOifLyX pic.twitter.com/xcx3t8ojt1
— P&J Opinion (@PJOpinion) September 19, 2022
At Holyrood on Wednesday, Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant raised the proposal put forward by Mr Hunter.
The Labour MSP asked: “I wonder if he (Mr Swinney) has given any consideration to Jim Hunter’s suggestion of a Highlands and Islands Housing Authority in order to address housing and depopulation?”
‘I will look with care’
Mr Swinney said: “I am always interested in the thinking and contribution of Jim Hunter, on all matters, but particularly on matters in relation to the Highlands and Islands.
“I will look with care, along with my colleague Mairi Gougeon (rural affairs secretary), at those issues.
“I think Rhoda Grant helpfully points out the significant relationship between the issues of the availability of affordable housing, economic opportunity, and the question of depopulation.
“And I think there is, without a question of a doubt, an interrelationship between these questions.”
However, Mr Swinney later said:Â “I think on the question of a new authority, I would reserve my position.
“I would rather we actually try to achieve the outcomes that Jim Hunter is raising on that question.
“I hope that the measures that the government is taking in relation to our islands expenditure is of assistance in trying to support those objectives of tackling depopulation, boosting economic opportunity and boosting the supply of housing.”
Ms Grant had earlier quizzed Mr Swinney on the government’s plans for the £5 million that had previously been earmarked for an abandoned plan to offer 100 families a £50,000 “bond” to stay on the islands.
The deputy first minister said the £300,000 that would have been spent in this financial year would now go to support projects identified by island communities.
Earlier this week, we asked the Scottish Government whether the £5m would be reinvested in projects designed to tackle depopulation on the islands.
A spokesman said: “The Islands Bond proposal was withdrawn following the findings from the consultation that suggested island communities did not support the proposed initiative.
“Welcoming the feedback from islanders, we are continuing to further develop other means to tackle depopulation including investing £300,000 this financial year to undertake practical policy tests that will inform the wider action plan to address depopulation due for publication in 2023.”
“This work complements the support provided to deliver on the National Islands Plan which will see a total of £8.3, invested in critical infrastructure projects.”