The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge reflects on the Capital’s response over the last four years:
As we mark this solemn fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we also draw hope and comfort in Edinburgh’s long history as a proud, welcoming and diverse city.
Our biggest strength lies in those who live here – people from all walks of life, cultures, and backgrounds.
From our long-standing links with the Norwegians and Poles during and after the Second World War to the thousands of Ukrainians, Afghans, Syrians and other refugees and displaced families who now call Edinburgh home, we’re proud to be a city of sanctuary – welcoming all those who come here in search of a better life.
As Kyiv’s twin city, I’m incredibly proud of the role that Edinburgh’s communities have played in helping those fleeing the horrors of Russia’s illegal war, with around 3,000 Ukrainians now residing in the Capital.
Since the first days of the invasion, we’ve been working hard across our services to help assimilate Ukrainians into their new lives here. The wider collective response encompassing the public, private and third sectors represents the very best qualities of our city and our citizens.
Residents, volunteers, and colleagues have worked steadfastly to help our new arrivals, opening their hearts and in many cases their homes to Ukrainians in their hour of need.
Edinburgh continues to be the gateway for the vast majority of Ukrainian arrivals into Scotland. Since February 2022, we have had almost 12,000 Ukrainians pass through our Welcome Hub, first at Gogarburn House and now at Flassches Yard.
On Tuesday morning, alongside representatives from the Scottish and UK Governments, the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain and other partners, I laid a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance.
My thoughts remain with those continuing to fight for freedom, those who have fallen or been injured in defence of Ukraine, and for everyone who has had to abandon their homes and lives.
Whilst this terrible war has endured for longer than any of us could have imagined, my hope remains that we will soon see peace in Ukraine.
To Edinburgh’s Ukrainian population my message is simple. This is your home. You are a valued part of our city and have our full support for as long as you need it.
I am pleased to be getting in touch to inform you about a Community Pop Up event regarding improvements to Arboretum Place and the area in front of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Inverleith Park.
With thanks to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, we welcome you to join us to see the proposals on Saturday 7th March from 10:30 – 2:00 pm on the Ground Floor of the John Hope Visitor Centre, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Arboretum Place, EH3 5NZ. The venue is fully accessible.
Stop by to hear more about the project, see the proposals, meet the design team and share your feedback.
We are working with the City of Edinburgh Council to develop concept designs for improvements to the site, looking at the introduction of sustainable drainage measures along the length of Arboretum Place and around the entrances to Inverleith Park and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, including placemaking opportunities between the two.
This work forms part of Climate Ready Craigleith looking at flood management interventions and improvements across the catchment and sits under the cities overarching Climate Ready Edinburgh strategy.
Edinburgh’s Conservative Group has put forward a Council budget proposing a 2.5% increase in Council Tax — the lowest of any political party on the City of Edinburgh Council and likely to be among the lowest increases anywhere in Scotland this year.
With UK inflation currently running at 3%, the Conservative proposal represents a real-terms reduction in Council Tax — effectively putting money back into the pockets of Edinburgh’s 250,000-plus households at a time when families are already feeling the squeeze from tax rises under Labour in Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood.
While Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats on the Council all back a 5% increase — significantly above the rate of inflation — and the Greens go even further with a 6% rise, the Conservatives have set out a credible alternative that lives within its means without sacrificing the services residents rely on.
The Conservative budget protects key frontline services and includes increased investment in areas residents care most about, including a dedicated fund for graffiti removal at heritage sites including the Union Canal, increased spending on road and pavement repairs, and a new Pest and Vermin Taskforce.
Councillor Iain Whyte, Conservative Group Leader, said: “Edinburgh families are already under enormous financial pressure. The last thing they need is their Council adding to that burden with above-inflation tax rises. Our budget shows you can protect services, invest in the things that matter, and still give residents a real-terms break on their bills.
“Every other party on this Council wants to charge residents more than inflation. We think that’s wrong. With over a quarter of a million households in Edinburgh, a below-inflation increase makes a real difference to real people.
“The SNP’s own First Minister said above-inflation Council Tax rises would not be reasonable. It’s a shame his colleagues on Edinburgh Council didn’t get that memo.”
The Conservative budget also rejects proposed increases to Council Tax premiums on second and empty homes, arguing that Council Tax should remain in part a charge for services used rather than solely a property tax.
The Conservative Group’s 2.5% proposal compares with most Scottish councils expected to implement increases of up to 10% or above for 2026/27.
There are approximately 250,000 households in the City of Edinburgh Council area.
Full details of the Conservative Group budget, along with the budget motions submitted by all other political groups on the Council, are available on the City of Edinburgh Council website at www.edinburgh.gov.uk.
Community projects have been given the green light after another successful public vote at the annual Leith Chooses event.
Thanks to the decisions of people in the Leith (ward 13) and Leith Walk (ward 12) areas of the city, the following organisations have received Community Grant Funding to progress projects that seek to improve wellbeing in Leith:
Dr Bell’s Family Centre – ‘Wellbeing in Leith’
Milan Senior Welfare Organisation – ‘Leith Connections’
Leith Community Growers – ‘Dùthchas – Growing an Orchard for the People’
Edinburgh Community Food – ‘Tasty Tales of Leith’
Water of Leith Conservation Trust – ‘Coalie Coalition Resources’
Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council – ‘Efficient and Healthy Cooking’
Pilmeny Development Project – ‘Wellbeing in Leith: Supporting Older People Out of Isolation’
Living Memory Association – ‘The Wee Hub’
Mustard Seed Edinburgh – ‘Roots and Routes: Conversations on Easter Road’
Kin Collective Family Wellbeing – ‘Kin Begins: Community Wellbeing Pregnancy Support’
From a community orchard to activity programmes tackling social isolation, this year will see the start of a variety of exciting new experiences in the area.
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said:“It’s great to see so many fantastic local projects benefitting through the Leith Chooses scheme. I look forward to seeing the difference this investment will make over the coming months.
“Participatory budgeting gives residents a genuine voice and real influence over how public funds are allocated, and it has been delivering meaningful results in Leith for more than a decade.
“I’m delighted that nearly £2million of income generated from the visitor levy is now going to use participatory budgeting to support activity that makes a difference for communities right across Edinburgh.”
Steering Group Chair Councillor Susan Rae said:“Thank you to everyone who took part in another successful Leith Chooses. I’m really looking forward to seeing these new projects develop.
“There’s a big push for Participatory Budgeting across the city of Edinburgh, and I’m just delighted to see it continue in Leith, well over a decade since it was first conceived.”
Steering group volunteer member and Harbour Homes’ Placemaking & Employability Officer Rachel Hutton said:“I was truly impressed and inspired to be part of my first Leith Chooses event.
“The passion of local people and the commitment shown by fund applicants are remarkable — qualities that would make anyone who lives, works or volunteers in Leith proud. This is what community involvement looks like in action.”
Steering Group Member Councillor Jack Caldwell said:“Once again, hundreds of people turned out to support wellbeing in Leith.
“Community Grant Funding continues to be vitally important for residents of all ages, and it’s great to see so many people across our neighbourhoods share so much enthusiasm for community wellbeing, and we’ll no doubt see some great projects take shape.”
Council Leader Jane Meagher sets out the many benefits the visitor levy will bring to Edinburgh, its residents and visitors:
We’re rightly proud that so many people want to visit and enjoy our historic and beautiful city – and of the significant benefit that tourism brings to our economy.
But with that popularity comes a cost: the pressure it places on our services and on the people who live and work here all year round.
We’ve long been aware of our responsibility to manage this pressure but, as the lowest funded local authority in Scotland, we had to find other ways of funding this.
I was delighted then that, having secured the powers to introduce a visitor levy for Edinburgh, we’ve now agreed the first round of spending programmes. This investment of nearly £100 million over the next three years will allow us to sustain and enhance our reputation as one of the most popular and enjoyable destinations in the world.
As the first local authority in the UK to push ahead with a city-wide scheme, I know that other councils across the UK – together with the UK, Welsh and Northern Irish governments – are watching closely as they seek to develop similar schemes of their own. They should be encouraged by what they’re seeing.
Thanks to the funds generated from the Edinburgh Visitor Levy, as we now know it, we can transform our city into a cleaner, greener and more welcoming environment. We can invest more in our award-winning parks and greenspaces, doubling the number of park rangers and funding extra planting across the city.
We can help to put more police on our streets while new public toilets, upgraded bins and extra patrols will help to maintain Edinburgh’s streets, public spaces and public infrastructure to the high standard our residents and visitors expect.
We can also renew and restore attractions across Edinburgh, including bringing much-loved cultural venues like the Royal High School and Leith Theatre back into use for the first time in decades.
We’ve listened to and taken account of the views of residents, the tourism industry and other stakeholders at every stage of the process – and I’m grateful to the many Council officers, Visitor Levy Advisory Forum members, businesses and residents for their valuable contributions and support.
This is just the beginning. As the scheme develops, we’ll continue to involve communities in spending decisions in their local areas – and the Forum will continue to help ensure the views of the city are taken into account over the next three years and beyond.
I’m sure, like me, they’re looking forward to seeing the many benefits the levy will bring to our city, our residents and our visitors.
Jane Meagher’s article first appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News
To celebrate 100 years since the Castle was gifted to the nation by the Reids, this year’s programme has a strong 1920s theme.
The centenary programme was officially launched with a visit from Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, who joined colleagues and volunteers at the castle to mark the beginning of a year-long celebration.
Featuring an exciting and varied selection of events, the programme will include talks, creative workshops, film screenings, and family fun activities. Highlights include:
Immersive heritage experiences inspired by different periods of the castle’s past
Interactive outdoor activities and themed trails for families
Seasonal festivals celebrating culture, craft and community
Costumed interpretation and live performances
Creative workshops, talks and special tours
A highlight of the year will be the original murder mystery plays, composed and performed by Edinburgh Living History, where guests can use their sleuthing skills to uncover the culprit.
In August, the 1920s-inspired scavenger hunt, reflecting popular leisure activities of the era, will have guests following the clues to meet some characters from the past whilst enjoying the beauty of the grounds.
Visitors will be able to enjoy the return of much-loved Japan Sakura, offering another weekend of fun, with the opportunity to take part in traditional crafts and hands-on activities for all ages.
To mark the centenary, guests can also watch a series of film screenings of titles both made and set in the 1920s starting with ‘The General’ (1926).
Many events will be free to attend, with some ticketed experiences available through advance booking. Details of all events are listed on the Culture Edinburgh website.
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “Lauriston Castle is one of Edinburgh’s most treasured sites, and the centenary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate both its past and its future.
“This programme brings together heritage, creativity and community in a way that reflects the spirit of Mr and Mrs Reid’s generous gift.
“We look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors to discover everything that Lauriston has to offer in 2026.”
Councillors yesterday (12 February) agreed the first full set of spending programmes for funding raised by the Edinburgh Visitor Levy, which comes into effect on 24 July 2026.
At a special meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council, councillors agreed a package of transformational funding worth over £90 million over the next three years to sustain and enhance Edinburgh’s reputation as one of the most beautiful and enjoyable destinations in the world.
In what is the first scheme of its kind in the UK, today’s decision sets out the amounts and projects within three well-defined investment programmes, as agreed by Council in January 2025: City Operations and Infrastructure; Culture, Heritage and Events; and Destination and Visitor Management.
Over the past twelve months, these programmes have been developed by Council officers, informed by feedback from public consultation and industry engagement, elected members and other stakeholders. The independent Edinburgh Visitor Levy Advisory Forum has also been consulted and provided feedback and recommendations on the programmes.
In accordance with the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act (2024), funds raised by the levy must be reinvested in local facilities and services substantially used by business and leisure visitors. All investment streams will be formally reviewed alongside the overall scheme in 2029.
Key initiatives agreed yesterday include, but are not limited to:
Ambitious projects to renew and restore principal areas of Edinburgh, including investments in our town centre high streets, £3m for public realm improvements in Hunter Square (with the potential to combine with investment in the Tron Kirk) and £2m and £2.5m respectively towards transforming the city’s key coastal visitor attractions at Cramond Foreshore and Portobello Promenade.
£5m to restore Leith Theatre and create a year round culture and live music space, expanding cultural opportunity beyond the city centre.
£3m towards transforming the iconic Old Royal High School into a world class, accessible national centre for music, shaped by community engagement and open to all.
Partnering with Police Scotland to create a City Centre Policing Unit, increasing public safety in the city centre and freeing up existing resource for frontline officers to be more present across other areas of the city – supported by an £850,000 investment in increased CCTV to allow residents and visitors to feel more safe in the city, town centres and other busy areas.
£2.75m to create a Market Street Arts Hub, reinvigorating the City Art Centre and collaborating with the Fruitmarket to create a new arts and learning destination at one of the city’s major visitor gateways.
£3.85m to speed up the Setted Streets renewal programme and £3m for new and upgraded public toilets to maintain Edinburgh’s streets, public spaces and public infrastructure to a world-class standard.
Funding to ensure the city’s streets and open spaces are cleaned and kept to a high standard, including a £100,000 per year upgrade and replacement programme for bins in high footfall areas, £500,000 per annum to expand work to tackle graffiti through extra support for private businesses and £1.3m on additional operations services for the city centre (waste, cleansing, patrols).
Investing in our Premier Parks across the city to create improved spaces where the highest footfall and impact on the environment is experienced – and increases to the parks repairs budgets, while doubling the number of Park Rangers across the city.
Programmes to green the city with additional investment in planting, such as floral gateways, to improve the look and feel of the city’s green spaces as well as the overall visitor experience
Councillors also instructed officers to bring a report to the Transport and Environment committee setting out options to deliver further public realm improvements in the city centre, including both Princes Street and George Street, and how they should be prioritised.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We’re rightly proud to be the first local authority in the UK to push ahead with a city-wide visitor levy scheme, and I can’t stress enough just how big an opportunity this is for our city, our residents and our visitors.
“Let’s not forget why we’re doing this. These spend programmes will help us not only to sustain and enhance the things that make our city so special, but also to better manage the effects of tourism and major events on those who live here all year round.
“But it’s so much more than that. After all, what’s not to like about visitors to Edinburgh contributing towards projects and services that benefit us all?
“We can now invest further in our plentiful parks and greenspaces, transform our city into a cleaner, greener and more welcoming environment, put more police on our streets and bring much-loved cultural venues such as the Royal High School and Leith Theatre back into use for the first time in decades. The list goes on.
“Agreeing these investment programmes today is a significant milestone in delivering a scheme that has been many years in the making, and is the result of a huge amount of development and engagement; engagement that, I’m pleased to say, will continue with communities making spending decisions in their local areas.
“I’m grateful to the many Council officers, Forum members, businesses and residents for their valuable contributions and for helping us to make this happen. I’m sure, like me, they’re looking forward to seeing the many benefits the levy will bring to our historic and beautiful Capital city.”
Commenting on the news that Edinburgh Visitor Levy Investment Programmes have been agreed by Edinburgh Council, Cllr Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill, Edinburgh Green Group co-convenor, said: “The Transient Visitor Levy is an innovation we can all be proud that Edinburgh is making.
“The legislation was passed in Holyrood in 2024 but the idea was raised by Green councillors in City of Edinburgh more than a decade ago. Scottish Greens in local and national chambers have welcomed the levy rolling out in our capital city – the first city in the UK to do so.”
Cllr Kinross-O’Neill continued: “Our group put forward bold proposals to redistribute visitor levy funding to free bus travel, to invest in improving the city is more accessible and sustainable. And most importantly, we have pushed hard to increase investment in genuinely affordable housing to address the spiralling rents which are partly due to overtourism.
“The Green group comes to this decision from a fundamentally different position to other political groups. Edinburgh already suffers from overtourism, especially at festival time. We do not believe that Edinburgh needs ever more visitors.
“We believe we need to better manage the tourism that we already have for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.”
Cllr Alex Staniforth, Edinburgh Green Councillors Finance spokesperson, said: “Our proposals rejected unnecessary spending on the whims of private business regarding graffiti and bunting.
“We also rejected the pie-in-the-sky notion that extra funding for police will improve the night time experience. Instead we proposed funding for local initiatives, free bus days for residents and visitors alike, more for sustainability and accessibility as well as funding for important cultural assets like Gorgie Farm and the Tron Kirk.
“I have a background in tourism, I want to share this beautiful city with our visitors and our proposals would have let us share it responsibly and happily.”
Edinburgh City Centre Green councillor Claire Miller said: “I’m delighted that one of the key Green Group proposals for Visitor Levy funding was to help and support people who tend to gather in and around Hunter Square, where there are currently significant impacts for visitors as well as the tourism and hospitality industry.
“This project would look at the human aspect and to work directly with people to help them and to tackle the issues at a much deeper root-cause level, so that harm can genuinely be reduced for them. I’m disappointed this project was not funded today, but I hope it can be considered in future years.”
Commenting on the agreement between SNP, Labour and Lib Dems to scrap the George Street project, Cllr Claire Miller said: “I’m gobsmacked that SNP councillors today have scuppered the long overdue pedestrian and cycle priority project for George Street.
“George Street is an important section of the “city centre west-east link”, the segregated route to cycle safely between Roseburn and the top of Leith Walk. The project is almost ready to start, with designs that have taken a decade to develop in collaboration with all stakeholders.
“I’ll be the first to call out the deficiencies – it’s got far too few trees and not nearly enough protection for cyclists – but it’s essential that the project goes ahead to complete the CCWEL.
“Greens stand by the many residents and businesses who have invested considerable time and energy into a vision and design which would transform George Street.”
Chair of the Visitor Levy Advisory Forum, Julie Ashworth said: “I’m very pleased that agreement has been reached for these first spend programmes, which I hope will have a transformative impact on both protecting Edinburgh’s unique heritage and supporting its future success.
“The Forum has worked closely with Council officers over the last few months to provide robust feedback on these initial investment streams and ensure the levy is delivered in a way that is fair, just and brings benefits to everyone in the years to come.
“Today’s agreement of the first round of investment is just the beginning and there will be plenty of opportunities for further proposals to come forward.
“As the programmes begin to expand and bear fruit, we will provide feedback on performance and continue to put forward the views of the city to ensure they are fairly and accurately represented and taken into account over the next three years and beyond.”
Other programmes designed to help meet the Council’s objectives in its Business Plan and Tourism Strategy include:
A Housing and Tourism Mitigation Fund which could help deliver 472 affordable homes between 2026/27 and 2028/29, with more than 75% potentially available for social rent. Making more social rent homes available could allow households currently using unsuitable temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, to access more appropriate settled accommodation. This would return B&Bs to their intended use for shorter-term guests.
Initiatives to strengthen awareness of Edinburgh’s diverse, year-round offer by inspiring visitors and residents to explore beyond the well-known attractions, leading to more balanced visitor numbers and impact around the city, throughout the year.
Programmes to provide direct support for the visitor economy to improve economic as well as environmental sustainability, fair work and innovation and help the sector to be more resilient, ethical and ready for the future.
Giving Edinburgh’s cultural organisations the investment and support to innovate and generate new world class content for the whole city, all year round by supporting local talent, spreading cultural activity and ensuring culture remains accessible, affordable and embedded in communities.
Investing in Edinburgh’s cultural and heritage locations to secure their futures as high-quality visitor destinations, green, creative and well maintained, spaces.
A Well-Kept City Fund to help to revitalise the city through a range of Clean, Green, Safe, Well-Maintained and Sustainable Infrastructure themed projects:
Clean: Ensuring the city’s streets and open spaces are cleaned and kept to a high standard.
Green: Protecting the quality of our green spaces through effective maintenance and visitor management.
Safe: Providing extra resource to allow residents and visitors to feel more safe in the city, town centres and other busy areas.
Well-Maintained: Maintaining Edinburgh’s streets, public spaces and public infrastructure to a world-class standard.
Sustainable Infrastructure: Ensuring that public transport and events spaces are responsibly protected and used to their best.
The Council has also agreed that £2m of income generated from the levy would be used to support new participatory budgeting (PB) activity over the next three years. PB involves communities making decisions on how public money is spent.
Speaking before the special council meeting to allocate ‘tourist tax’ funding, Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “From a grandiose super cycle lane on George Street to bringing back the Festival Cavalcade, Edinburgh Council has compiled an extensive shopping list based on projected revenue.
“Some of the ideas are merited from a visitor economy perspective, but a dose of realism is required. Many should already be part of basic council core spending – and it shouldn’t take a tourist tax for adequately policed streets in the city centre.
“To retain confidence, the Council must be laser focused on ensuring the spending falls within the statutory purpose of the visitor levy legislation. In particular, the plan for affordable housing not only scapegoats local businesses for issues beyond their control, industry has also repeatedly warned that is legally dubious.
“Given the Council’s recent track record in the courts on short term lets, the last thing it needs is another legal challenge.”
The levy applies to paid overnight accommodation booked after 1 October 2025, if the stay takes place from 24 July 2026 onwards.
It is a 5% payment on the accommodation-only cost and applies to the first 5 nights’ stay. The scheme is projected to raise up to £50 million a year to invest in protecting, supporting and enhancing Edinburgh’s worldwide appeal as a place to visit and live.
COUNCILLORS APPROVE NEW FIVE-YEAR EMPTY HOMES STRATEGY
The City of Edinburgh Council has made ‘strong progress’ over the past year in bringing empty homes back into use, as councillors approved a new five-year Empty Homes Strategy yesterday.
In the last year, 81 privately owned empty properties have been brought back into use bringing the total since 2023 to 149.
Edinburgh declared a housing emergency in November 2023 in response to challenges including rising homelessness, an acute shortage of social housing and growing pressure on temporary accommodation.
Bringing empty homes back into use is a key action within the Council’s Housing Emergency Action Plan, with a focus on supporting homeless households.
Following the recruitment of two additional Empty Homes Officers and a Housing Development Officer the team has increased efforts to identify properties earlier, work directly with owners and secure quicker routes to bring homes back into use.
Progress includes offering advice to owners of properties that have been empty for close to twelve months, participating in the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership matchmaker scheme and developing proposals for a new grant scheme linked to the Council’s Private Sector Leasing programme that would help owners make empty homes lettable, which would increase the supply of temporary accommodation available in the city.
Councillors approved the Empty Homes Strategy and Annual Report at Tuesday’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee which sets out how the Council will accelerate work over the next five years.
The strategy focuses on earlier identification of empty homes, targeted support for owners and the use of legal powers where appropriate to bring homes back into use.
Cllr Tim Pogson, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “We’re committed to addressing the issue of empty homes across the city, to make sure that more properties are brought back into use and contribute to our housing stock.
“There are a variety of reasons why properties become empty, from legal and financial issues to personal circumstances and market dynamics. Our Empty Homes Team focuses on advising owners about their options, including selling their property or becoming a private landlord, helping to make more homes available to buyers and renters.
“With 149 homes made available since 2023 it’s great that people and families now have homes they would otherwise not have had, but there is still much more to do. We estimate there are over 3,000 empty homes in the city, with around 2,500 empty for more than twelve months.
“That is why we will continue to build on what has already been a very successful approach and encourage owners of empty homes to contact the Council for support to bring their property back into use.”
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, Cllr Tim Pogson writes: “In November 2023, we took the significant step of declaring a housing emergency here in Edinburgh – the first city in Scotland to do so.
Our city continues to face unprecedented demand for housing, amidst challenging market conditions, ongoing budget pressures and insufficient funding from the Scottish Government. Declaring an emergency was a call to action and now over two years on, there is clear evidence that this call is being answered.
The Council’s Housing Emergency Action Plan (HEAP) provides a focused and pragmatic response. Built around two themes – increasing housing supply and addressing demand for housing – the plan recognises both the immediate pressures facing households and the structural challenges that have built up over many years.
I’m pleased to report that progress against both of these themes has been considerable over the past 12 months.
I should say that this is completely at odds with some of the misleading commentary we’ve seen in the media and elsewhere – based it would seem on a complete (and in some cases wilful) misinterpretation of council reporting. To be absolutely clear, the Council does not have a £60 million underspend in housing and, no, we won’t be giving it to Glasgow.
This fictitious figure came from the sum of £45 million for temporary accommodation, which are now being purchased from a different fund, and £15m to reflect a revised spending profile across a number of new housing developments, all of which are still progressing to plan. In short, the money is being spent and the houses built.
This year alone, the Council has completed construction of 459 new homes and purchased of an additional 278 ‘off the shelf’. This represents the single biggest annual increase in our housing stock in recent years and more than double the amount delivered in any of the last five years.
Major development milestones have also been reached across the city, with business cases approved for Granton Waterfont (phase 1), Fountainbridge and Meadowbank – which together will deliver 2,000 new homes for the city.
We’ve also reduced the number of void properties by over 60% from when the Housing Emergency was declared, making more homes available to let – bringing much needed homes back into use.
Looking forward, our ambitious budget strategy, which councillors will debate on 26 February, places housing at the heart of our plans, with a £1.6 billion investment in affordable homes proposed over the next five years.
This would represent one of the largest housing interventions by a local authority in modern times, and all deliverable before the Scottish Government’s new Home Agency even puts a spade in the ground.
While there is still much to do, the progress we’ve made in tackling the housing emergency shows that sustained action, partnership working, and political commitment can make a real difference.
Pressures remain acute, and the scale of the challenge should not be underestimated, but our direction of travel is clear.
This article first appeared in the Evening Newson 4 February
