28
Jan
Scottish affordable housing funding announced
New government money to help provide more affordable homes in
Scotland has been announced today.
Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed that £17
million is to be brought forward to help provide more
housing.
The Scottish government said this is an "acceleration" in the
supply of funds from the three-year, £120 million budget for
housing.
Ms Sturgeon remarked: "We are determined to help the country's
businesses and households deal with the impact of the economic
downturn and to provide much needed affordable housing as quickly
as possible."
Some of the money will help construction firms to continue with
existing projects, while other cash will be used to buy up unsold
stock from the private sector.
Such moves may help more first-time buyers in Scotland to get on
the housing ladder.
The average Scottish home costs 5.6 times the average annual wage,
new research from the GMB union has found, compared to 5.1 times as
much in England and Wales.
