The City of Edinburgh Council has outlined a detailed plan to deliver the first phase of the Capital Coalition’s commitment to build 20,000 affordable homes over the next ten years.

In January 2016, the Council made the historic commitment with housing association partners to deliver 16,000 homes over the next decade. Following the formation of the Capital Coalition this target was further increased to 20,000 homes.

This includes a commitment to deliver around 3,000 affordable homes with integrated health, care and support services for people with complex physical and health needs.

In the report, approved by the Housing and Economy Committee yesterday, the council proposed their largest ever Strategic Housing Investment Plan for 2018/19 to 2022/23 prior to its submission to the Scottish Government.

Over the next five years, the programme would deliver nearly 8,000 affordable homes with over 5,000 of those homes forming part of the Scottish Government funded Affordable Housing Supply Programme. Around 70 per cent of those homes are for social rent with the remainder being for mid market rent and low cost home ownership.

The Council is working with partners, including the Scottish Government, to ensure there is adequate funding to accelerate the development of sites in order to deliver the Council’s commitment of 20,000 homes over 10 years.

Councillor Gavin Barrie, Convener of Housing and Economy, said: “Working with our partners the Council is already delivering on what is one of the most ambitious housing plans in the United Kingdom.

“The strong history of partnership working and award-winning housing development means that work is already well under way to achieve these ambitious commitments, with over 2,000 affordable homes under construction on 33 sites in the city. This is the largest Strategic Housing Investment Plan ever put forward to Committee for approval.”

“It will also accelerate house building to provide the increase in affordable homes that Edinburgh so desperately needs, helping all residents on low to moderate incomes to access the right type of housing to meet their needs.”

John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Association of Landlords, said: “This is fantastic news for the city of Edinburgh and a sign of real long-term action being taken to tackle the housing crisis we are facing. SAL fully endorses this move and believes it can reduce pressure on the Private Rented Sector (PRS) and be more effective in tackling rent rises caused by high demand and reduced supply better than other measures being considered.”