Annual Update on Perth and Kinross Local Housing Strategy 2022-27
Perth and Kinross Council · 11 June 2025
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 11 June 2025 and its agenda
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Housing & Social Wellbeing Committee Date of Meeting: 11 June 2025 Report Title: Annual Update on Perth and Kinross Local Housing Strategy 2022-2027 Report Number: 25/156 Report Author: Hannah Maclean, Planning & Policy Officer – Planning & Housing Strategy Organisational Lead: Elaine Ritchie, Strategic Lead - Housing & Communities Serge Merone, Strategic Lead - Economy, Development & Planning ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this Report is to note progress in implementing the Local Housing Strategy for Perth and Kinross previously approved at Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on 15 March 2023 and to approve the priorities for the current year. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendation(s) 3. Background and Context 4. Perth and Kinross Local Housing Strategy 2022-2027 Annual Progress Update Year 3 5. Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan 6. Implementation and Review 7. Monitoring 8. Conclusion 9. Impact and Value Assessment 10. Appendices
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2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee: 2.1 Notes the progress made during 2024-2025 towards achieving the outcomes set out within the LHS Action Plan (Appendix 1). 2.2 Approves the priorities for 2025-2026 set out in Section 6 below. 3. Background And Context 3.1 The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 places a statutory requirement on local authorities to prepare a Local Housing Strategy (LHS) supported by an assessment of housing need and demand. The LHS provides the direction for tackling housing issues and informs future investment in housing and related services. 3.2 The LHS outlines what the Council and its partners would like to deliver for all areas within Perth and Kinross during the five-year period 2022-2027. The LHS 2022-2027 was prepared in accordance with the Scottish Government’s Local Housing Strategy Guidance 2019 which sets out statutory requirements, essential links and outcomes that should be considered within the LHS framework. 3.3 LHS Guidance also states that Local authorities are required to report and review annually on progress against the target(s) as part of an annual report on how the LHS is implementing its priorities and plans for the delivery of housing and housing related services within the five-year period of the strategy. 3.4 The Local Housing Strategy 2022-2027 was approved at Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on 15 March 2023 (Report No.23/82). This report presents progress of the third year of the strategy covering the period 2024 to 2025. 3.5 Key partners and stakeholders underpin successful implementation and delivery of LHS actions which has continued positively in the third year of the strategy through ongoing engagement, quarterly newsletters, and an in- person workshop. 3.6 The LHS 2022-2027 is firmly aligned to the priorities and vision of the Corporate Plan 2022/23 – 2027/28 (December 2022) for a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality. The LHS 2022-2027 reflects the views of our communities, elected members, stakeholders, and partner organisations. These views have helped influence the development of the LHS priorities and outcomes which are most important for Perth and Kinross, in enabling Perth and Kinross Council and partners to deliver high quality housing and housing services to meet the needs of local people in all housing tenures.
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4. Perth And Kinross Local Housing Strategy 2022-2027 Annual Progress Update 2024-2025 Year 3 4.1 The annual progress report for Year 3 (2024-25) is attached in Appendix 1. The Local Housing Strategy has the following four priorities for action including the key areas of progress: Priority 1: Providing more affordable homes to support liveable and sustainable communities: 4.2 The LHS’s aim is to evidence local housing need and set a strategic vision over the next five years for housing across public and private sectors, by providing the right size, type, and tenure of housing in sustainable, well- connected places. 4.3 During 2024-25, the following was achieved: New affordable homes for social rent and mid-market rent were delivered above target across the Perth and Kinross area. The Council’s own housing stock was increased through the purchase of buybacks and bringing empty homes back into use for affordable housing. A number of projects progressed to identify the potential for more housing in rural areas through housing needs assessments, feasibility studies and utilising the Self-Build Register. Initial design consultation was undertaken for refurbishment of a former primary school to be converted into affordable housing using the Sustainable Inclusive Homes Net Zero Carbon Design Guide 4.4 The impact of these activities has been to help meet housing need in the area and provide affordable housing across all tenures. The additional affordable housing has enabled turnover within the overall stock. By expanding our stock through buybacks and empty homes, we have ensured we have more homes of the right type and size in areas people want to live in. This has reduced waiting lists and met a range of housing needs in the area including overcrowding, under occupying, alleviating homelessness, and meeting mobility needs. Despite the ongoing national housing emergency and local housing supply and demand pressures, the number of new homelessness presentations in 2024/25 remained static with a slight increase of 0.6% compared to 2023/24. The new affordable housing supply and buy-backs mentioned above has been vital in terms of preventing homelessness, meeting homelessness demand, and minimising the requirement for and duration spent in temporary accommodation.
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Priority 2: Providing a range of housing options that people can easily access, afford and keep 4.5 The LHS’s aim is to set out the role that housing can play in improving housing choice across all tenures and the LHS contribution to tackling child poverty and further development of the Council’s Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTP), building on the Home First model. 4.6 During 2024-25, the following was achieved: Support provided to households to sustain their tenancy increased through initiatives such as our Tenancy Sustainment Fund, Financial Inclusion Project and Think Yes budget. A revised Common Allocations Policy was published which includes an enhanced Tenant Downsizing Scheme with improved incentives to enable better targeting of properties that are under-occupied. The Intensive Housing Support service continues to provide enhanced personalised transitional housing support to homeless households with the service remaining at capacity. Increased support through resettlement programmes and further development of our approach to Rapid Rehousing via the Home First model has contributed to reducing the need for temporary accommodation. 4.7 The impact of these activities has been to support people to have increased awareness and access to suitable housing options to mitigate the impact of housing induced poverty and poor housing affordability. We have undertaken work to reduce the stigma associated with homelessness and minimised the impact and duration of households experiencing homelessness in Perth and Kinross. Priority 3: Delivering housing for people with varying needs 4.8 The LHS’s aim is to deliver accessible homes, wheelchair homes and particular forms of provision such as supported accommodation for key client groups to enable people to live independently and well, for as long as possible, through investment in property adaptations, technology, care and support services. 4.9 During 2024-25, the following was achieved: Continued investment in adaptations to Council and Housing Association properties and support for private tenants and homeowners through the Care and Repair Scheme. A new Adaptations Policy for Council housing to support delivery of property adaptations was implemented. The Housing OT service supported wheelchair users and those with adaptation needs to move into fully adapted housing.
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Additional new build accommodation linked to 24/7 onsite staff support through technology was delivered for individuals identified through the ILP. New energy efficient chalets for the Gypsy Traveller site were delivered alongside the start of upgrades being installed to create a sustainable environment for residents and support climate change ambitions. 4.10 The impact of these activities has been to enable people to live independently and well for as long as possible through investment in property adaptations, technology, care and support services. Through increased partnership working, and an increase in preventative housing and support services, more people have been enabled to remain in their own home, leave hospital or out of area placements and to live in their chosen community independently with support, close to family and support networks. Priority 4: Delivering quality homes with affordable warmth, zero emission and SMART technology 4.11 The LHS’s aim is to provide the strategic framework for improving the quality and energy efficiency of homes across all tenures, driving improvement in housing induced poverty and proactively tackling fuel poverty through investment in housing condition and energy improvements; and setting a road map for reducing domestic carbon emissions. 4.12 During 2024-25, the following was achieved: The first Perth and Kinross Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) was implemented, setting out energy efficiency improvements across all tenures, with a LHEES Coordination Team being established to support delivery. Energy efficiency advice continued to be offered to households through working with Save Cash and Reduce Fuel (SCARF), resulting in savings for residents, reductions in carbon emissions and removing some residents from fuel poverty. There has been further investment in existing stock and new build housing with installation of energy efficiency improvements. The Missing Shares Service saw further investment in communal repairs for homeowners. In partnership with Registered Social Landlords, 63 new build properties benefited from fibre installation allowing residents much improved access. 4.13 The impact of these measures ensures that people can live in and benefit from homes which meet energy efficiency, climate change and housing quality ambitions. Investment in housing condition and energy improvements, including mechanisms and support to enable landlords and owners to invest in repairs and maintenance has improved the quality of housing for residents.
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5. Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan 5.1 All local authorities were required to develop a Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTP) to cover the period from April 2019 to March 2024. The purpose of RRTP’s was to set out a transition to a response to homelessness which is based on prevention, provides households with settled accommodation as soon as possible, and avoids the automatic and prolonged use of temporary accommodation. 5.2 Perth & Kinross Council’s RRTP was approved by the Housing & Communities Committee on 23 January 2019 (report 19/13 refers). An updated RRTP was approved by the same Committee on 03 February 2021 (report 21/16 refers). Both the initial Plan and the update were based on the successful Home First model which had been implemented in April 2017. The Home First model is based on three pillars – Prevention, Rapid Rehousing and Tenancy Sustainment. 5.3 During the 5-year period of the RRTP, the Scottish Government has provided annual implementation funding, and local authorities have been required to provide an annual update on progress and details of how the funding was used and the associated impact. The funding has been extended into 2024/25 and 2025/26 with reduced progress reporting, and no formal requirement to update the RRTP itself. 5.4 The overall RRTP period to 2025/26 has included the pandemic, the period of economic instability usually referred to as the ‘cost of living crisis’ and the more recent acute housing market pressures that resulted in the Scottish Government’s declaration of a national housing emergency in May 2024. 5.5 The collective and cumulative effect of these events and pressures has meant that very few local authorities could be considered to have made the transition to rapid rehousing. Nationally, homelessness and temporary accommodation use has increased during this period. 5.6 A transition to rapid rehousing is no longer a realistic ambition for most local authorities even with the Scottish Government’s reaffirmation of its commitment to ‘Ending Homelessness Together’. It seems more likely that the focus on rapid rehousing will be replaced by the ‘Prevention Duty’ which forms part of the Housing Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament in March 2024. If it becomes law, the Prevention Duty will introduce a ‘no wrong door’ policy with a range of public sector organisations having a new duty to ‘ask and act’ about homelessness. 5.7 Perth & Kinross Council has delivered sector-leading outcomes for people experiencing homelessness during the period since Home First was launched in 2017. An overview of performance and outcomes is provided in Appendix 1. Work is ongoing to update the RRTP and it will be proposed that this is renamed simply as ‘Home First’ and that it is recognised as a homelessness and temporary accommodation strategy document which will continue to be a part of the Local Housing Strategy framework moving forward.
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5.8 The revised Home First strategy document and further updates on homelessness performance and outcomes, including our approach to the implementation to the Prevention Duty, will be brought to Committee through the existing LHS annual update reporting cycle. 6. Implementation and Review 6.1 A workshop held in January 2025 marked the midway point of the LHS, and allowed an opportunity to hear how work is progressing, and in considering current challenges, how we plan to prioritise areas of the LHS over the remaining two years. There were 60 stakeholders that attended the workshop representing a collective of public, private, third and community sectors who are all involved in helping to deliver positive housing outcomes for Perth and Kinross. Through the workshop, existing actions were reviewed and enhanced through including additional leads / coordinators and milestones to ensure actions can be achieved by 2027. These additional outputs will be reported in the annual progress update in June 2026. A summary of the workshop is available to view here. 6.2 During 2025-26 we intend to continue to work with partners to deliver progress on LHS actions, including the following priorities: Priorities for 2025-26 Priority 1: Accelerate delivery of our affordable housing programme of 1,050 homes over the five-year LHS period, through our Strategic Housing Investment Plan and actions to build the affordable housing land supply. Continue work on reducing Empty Homes and target investment in areas where housing pressure is evidenced. Continue to support delivery of local Housing Need Assessments and Community-led projects in rural areas. Work to develop Local Living and 20-minute neighbourhood analysis and definitions that enable partners, stakeholders, and investors to pursue placemaking which improves connectivity through investment in physical, social, and digital infrastructure. Report on the consultation results for a Short Term Let Control Area(s) in Northern Perthshire (agreed by Full Council on 7 May). Priority 2: Continue to develop and improve tailored debt advice and welfare assistance to households across Perth and Kinross. Monitor the potential of tenant incentive scheme to encourage tenants of larger properties to downsize. Continue to explore potential projects to deliver key worker housing in Northern Perthshire.
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Continue to work with partners to offer housing and support options to refugees in response to national dispersal and resettlement programmes. Increase engagement with private landlords in Perth and Kinross to improve awareness of proposed PRS reforms and investment regarding energy efficiency measures. Priority 3: Ensure planning policy, placemaking and housing investment contribute to health and wellbeing, particularly through development in rural areas in partnership with RSLs and HSCP. Develop and implement Dementia Friendly design for social rented newbuild developments. Engagement with developers to encourage more wheelchair accessible homes delivered through the Private Sector. All tenure wheelchair (Private) target to be considered for LDP3 for all sites. Continue to progress core and cluster projects through Independent Living Panel Continue to use, where required, the Buyback Scheme to purchase ‘particular / adaptable homes’ for households with varying needs to ensure existing adapted properties are matched to households with specific requirements. Priority 4: Support implementation of LHEES Delivery Plan to improve energy efficiency across all tenures. Encourage more third sector organisations to engage in the provision of energy advice and support. Continue with training and developing the understanding of the current and future skills and training requirements of the construction sector to deliver quality homes. Work with Scottish Government and other agencies to improve digital infrastructure particularly in rural communities. Use the learning from the existing Internet of Things pilot ‘Monitoring temperature humidity and CO2 in 50 homes to help tenants manage their energy, reduce fuel poverty and maintain their homes well’ with a view to scale it up. 6.3 It is recommended that Committee approve these priorities identified within the LHS Action Plan 2022-2027 (Appendix 1) for the year 2025-2026. 6.4 The Scottish Government’s More Homes Division have confirmed that the Resource Planning Assumption (RPA) for 25/26 will be £16,587,000.
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7 Monitoring 7.1 Actions are being implemented through the LHS Delivery Group and by operational teams. The LHS Delivery Group continues to build on the strong partnerships already in place, recognising that achieving LHS priorities will require a collective effort from delivery partners, stakeholders, communities, and residents of Perth and Kinross. 7.2 The LHS Communications Plan sets out regular consultation and engagement with stakeholders. It also ensures there is awareness of the key housing priorities for Perth and Kinross until 2027. 8. Conclusion 8.1 The report outlines the significant outcomes achieved by key action leads, coordinators and partners in the third year of delivering actions within the Local Housing Strategy 2022-2027, alongside key priority actions for 2025- 2026. 8.2 The Tenant Committee Report Panel was consulted on this report and provided the following comment: “Tenants support this report and are pleased to see that the strategy is progressing as planned. Congratulations to all staff who have contributed to this success – keep up the good work.” The Panel also reported that they value involvement in the LHS. 9. Impact and Value Assessment Annual_Update_on_Perth_and_Kinross_Local_Housing_Strategy_2022-2027.pdf 10. Appendices 10.1 Appendix 1 – Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2022-2027 Annual Progress Report