 | Scotland’s Housing: building firm foundations for the future - Edinburgh, 8 December 2008 08-12-2008, Source: Holyrood
Conferences Introduction The supply of affordable homes for all of Scotland’s people is a key priority
for the Scottish Government, who have pledged to supply at least 35,000 new
homes a year by the middle of next decade. With the First Minister bringing
forward a £100 million spending plan as part of the Affordable Housing
Investment Programme, this is a fiscal priority affecting private, public and
voluntary organisations. The need to promote growth in the housing market
despite the economic downturn is imperative to meet demand and to ensure the
stability of the home building industry which is responsible for the livelihoods
of 100,000 people in Scotland.
Description
With the introduction of the Home Reports for every house sale in Scotland,
the housing market is being put under increasing strain with experts divided on
the impact the reports will have on an already faltering market. Holyrood’s
conference will bring together representatives from the Scottish Parliament and
the public, private and voluntary sectors to debate the key issues affecting the
housing market in Scotland, including Home Reports, challenges for housing
associations and the fallout from the economic crisis.
Following the announcement that the RBS will allow defaulting customers a 6
months grace period on potential repossessions, the conference will hear from
Senior Economic Advisor at RBS, Stephen Blackman, who will look at the financial
imperatives for securing the future of the housing market. Speakers and
delegates will debate a range of issues facing the housing market and attendees
will have the opportunity to put questions to a political panel which will
include MSPs from the 5 principal parties in Scotland.
Programme
08:45 Registration and refreshments
09:30 Welcome and introduction by the Chair
Professor Kenneth Gibb, Department of Urban Studies, University of Glasgow Session one: Creating Stability
This session will look broadly at the Scottish housing market, looking at
recent financial trends and asking what should be done to ensure future
sustainability.
09:35 Building sustainable communities
Wayne Hemingway MBE, HemingwayDesign 10:05 Economic perspectives: what does the future hold?
Stephen Blackman, Senior Economic Advisor, RBS 10:25 Stabilising the market
Ron Smith, Chief Executive, ESPC 10:45 Questions and discussion
11:05 Refreshments
Session two: New directions for housing
This session will look at the new directions for housing across different
tenures and how solutions to the demand for housing are being met. Looking at
both private and social housing, experts will discuss the possible future
direction for Scotland.
11:25 What future for social housing?
Dr Sarah Glynn, Public Interest Research Fellow, University of Strathclyde 11:40 Raising ambitions for Scottish housing
Gavin Corbett, Head of Policy, Shelter Scotland 11:55 The new face of council housing
Councillor Paul Edie, The City of Edinburgh Council 12:10 The pressure on the private rental market
John Blackwood, Director, Scottish Association of Landlords 12:25 Questions and discussion
12:40 Lunch
Session three: A unified response
This session will allow delegates to put questions to a political panel made
up of MSP’s from the main parties within the Scottish Parliament. Participants
will look at the how the shape of future housing policy can provide affordable
homes and solutions to the housing crisis.
13:40 Political debate:
Panellists:
Alex
Neil MSP, Scottish National Party
Mary
Mulligan MSP, Scottish Labour
Jamie
McGrigor MSP, Scottish Conservative Party
Jamie
Stone MSP, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Patrick
Harvie MSP, Scottish Green Party
14:30 Refreshments
Session four: Long term needs of the housing market
This session will take a long-term outlook and ask how all sectors can
contribute to strengthening the market and encouraging investment to ensure
growth in a time of economic uncertainty.
14:50 Challenges for housing associations
Andrew Field, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) 15:10 Homes for all of Scotland
Andrew Mickel, Chairman of the Board, Homes for Scotland and Director, Mactaggart & Mickel Ltd 15:30 Questions and discussion
15:45 Summary and conclusions
15:50 Close of conference
Location
Register Links Click here to visit the conference websiteClick here to read a document on the future housing in Scotland by the Scottish governmentback |
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