The Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2022-27 is the key strategic document that considers housing issues and sets out priority outcomes for the council and its partners to work towards over the five-year period.

The key aim of the LHS is to identify what needs to be done to ensure there is enough housing of the right type and in the right places to meet the current and future needs of people living in South Lanarkshire.

Following a three-month public consultation, the LHS 2022-27 was approved by the council’s Executive Committee on 30 November last year.

Set out below is a summary of the work that will be progressed over the next five years, under each of the five themes of the LHS.

Housing Supply, Affordability and Choice

The council and its partners will work together to increase the overall supply of housing, ensuring that homes are affordable and that people have choice in the housing options that best suit their needs. This will include building 1300 new council homes, bringing empty homes back into use and working with private landlords to ensure that renting remains a positive option for people.

Housing Quality, Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation

There will also be a focus on ensuring all homes are of good quality, are well maintained and are warm and energy-efficient. By 2027, action will be taken to install more decarbonised heating systems and improve the average energy-efficiency ratings of homes in South Lanarkshire. There will be a focus on meeting the Scottish Government’s energy-efficiency targets for social housing, which will play an important role in tackling climate change as well as reducing fuel poverty.

Specialist Provision and Supporting Independent Living

A key aim is to provide specialist housing where it is needed and support people to live independently within the community in a suitable and sustainable home. Actions to achieve this will include increasing the supply of social rented housing suitable for older people or those with particular mobility needs, with a specific focus on wheelchair-accessible housing. Other priorities include work to consider the housing needs of people with dementia, learning difficulties, and neurodiversity issues, as well as improving
access to housing for veterans, refugees and people seeking asylum.

Addressing Homelessness

Preventing and reducing homelessness, providing suitable temporary accommodation where needed and ensuring people move into their own home as quickly as possible are also central to the strategy.
The council and partners will continue to work together to develop approaches to prevent homelessness in line with new legislation.

Sustainable Places

To further enhance quality of life for people across South Lanarkshire, we will deliver places to live that are sustainable with green spaces, improve digital connectivity and promote active travel within housing developments, making it easier for people to walk and cycle locally.

The full Local Housing Strategy 2022-27 is available on the council’s website and progress with the work outlined in it will be reviewed and reported annually.