Local Housing Strategy

Our communities of practice are a group of like minded professionals that work (or have an interest in) an area of housing practice.

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About

The Local Housing Strategy (LHS) Forum supports local authority staff responsible for strategic planning to meet housing needs. This community of practice will be particularly relevant to officers and teams involved in preparing and implementing strategic plans, including Housing Need and Demand Assessments (HNDAs), Local Housing Strategies (LHSs), Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs) and Housing Contribution Statements (HCSs).  

This community of practice covers a wide and varied range of topics related to Housing Policy and Strategy, and is about highlighting common issues, sharing good practice and discussing the national strategic direction of travel. This community of practice will aim to provide you with useful examples from across the country, highlight new research, funding sources and projects, and provide an opportunity to learn from each other.  Representatives from both the Scottish Government’s More Homes division and Centre for Housing Market Analysis attend these forums to provide support to members working in this area.   

Who is it for

The group is for local authority officers with an interest in Housing Policy and Strategy and meets quarterly.

Key Content

1

Best practice in preparing HNDAs

2

Local Housing Strategy development, including consultation with stakeholders

3

Setting Housing Supply Targets including Wheelchair Accessible Housing Targets

4

Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs)

5

Developing other associated plans, e.g. on homelessness, health and social care or energy performance

6

Working with other stakeholders to implement the LHS

7

Examples of research and projects focussed on strategic approaches to housing need and improving housing outcomes

Forthcoming Events

Approaches to Allocations discussion session

A roundtable discussion among both LA's and RSL's on the pros and cons of various allocations models, i.e. Choice-Based Lettings, Needs based, CHR etc.
11th Apr 2024
Microsoft Teams

Latest News

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Report Generator

14-Feb-24
Scotland’s Housing Network is pleased to today launch our Housing Revenue Account (HRA) report generator, to help local authorities benchmark various elements of their HRA returns against their peers.

13th Annual Empty Homes Conference

13-Feb-24
The 13th annual Scottish Empty Homes Conference will take place in Glasgow on Thursday 29 February. The in-person only event will be held in The Studio on Hope Street near the city centre.

Homes For Scotland publish report examining existing housing need in Scotland

01-Feb-24
Homes For Scotland have published a study of existing housing need in Scotland.

Publications and reports

EESSH Voluntary Collection Template – 2023/24 Return

SHN's Voluntary Collection template for reporting year 2023/24 - issued March 2024.

Member Query – LHS Annual Updates – April 2024

Responses received to a recent member query on LHS Annual updates, April 2024.

Wheelchair Accessible Housing Targets – A review of local authority Strategic Housing Investment Plans 2024-2029 – March 2024

SHN report on LA's Wheelchair Accessible Housing Targets as set out in the most recent round of SHIPS at time of writing, 2024-2029.

Past Events

Local Housing Strategy forum

The next LHS forum will cover a range of topics, including the Social Housing Net Zero Standard, Access to Greenspace, Wheelchair Housing targets and our regular updates from the Scottish Government.
11th Mar 2024
Microsoft Teams

Rural and Islands Action Plan – An Overview with More Homes Division

In this special session we will be joined by colleagues from the SG's More Homes Division to discuss the Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan, what it hopes to achieve and some key actions.
7th Mar 2024
Microsoft Teams

Housing for Varying Needs, Consultation Workshop

An interactive, face to face workshop facilitated by Anderson Bell Christie to consider the current Housing for Varying Needs consultation.
11th Dec 2023

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