Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Housing Services
Housing Strategy
Comhairle Nan Eilean produces a Local Housing Strategy (PDF, 700K) for the Western Isles. The Local Housing Strategy sets out the Comhairle’s aims and objectives for tackling housing issues in the Western Isles. The LHS takes into account the housing needs and conditions of the area and sets out a vision for addressing these.
The first LHS was produced in 2004 and established the vision
“that every resident in the Western Isles is able to live in good quality, warm and affordable homes that meet their needs and that housing contributes to sustaining the economic social environment”
The Comhairle is currently developing a new Local Housing Strategy for the period 2011-16.The Comhairle is keen to find out the views of the community and partner organisations and so is carrying out a period of consultation on the new Local Housing Strategy. This consultation period will run until the end of July 2010. Further information is available via the followig link
A New Housing Strategy for the Outer Hebrides
The Local Housing Strategy translated this vision into 5 Key Themes and 14 Objectives.
Housing Supply
1 Increase the supply of affordable housing by at least 300 units by 2009
2 Bring back into use 15 empty homes to provide affordable accommodation in Greater Stornoway Area by 2009
3 By 2009 secure access to land in crofting townships for additional housing
Economic Regeneration
4 Support inward migration of at least 30 households on average per annum
5 Secure at least 5 additional full time job or training opportunities for jobseekers per annum in the construction sector
6 Increase private accommodation targeted at younger economically active households in Greater Stornoway by 50 units as part of a wider area regeneration strategy by 2008
Community Regeneration
7 Strengthen and make better use of sound evidence on links between housing investment and economic and social development in the Western Isles to inform policy development
Warm Homes
8 Ensure that at least 70% of the social rented stock achieves the Social Housing Quality Standard by 2009
9 Improve stock condition in the private sector by 2009
10 Reduce fuel poverty by 50% by 2009
Social Inclusion
11 Provide appropriate housing related solutions to prevent homelessness
12 Increase assistance to all households who become homeless by 2009
13 Provide additional and more responsive housing related services to enable vulnerable people to remain in the community
14 Increase the proportion of older people assisted by housing and related services to maintain their independence in their own home or community
The Comhairle reviews its Local Housing Strategy (PDF, 500K) on an annual basis. The most recent LHS annual update (PDF, 780K) is available here. A Summary Leaflet (PDF, 130K) of the Local Housing Strategy is also available.
For further information about the Comhairle’s Local Housing Strategy, please contact the Housing Services Team on 01851 822691.
