Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 – Year Three (2025-26) Progress Update combined
Renfrewshire Council · 18 August 2026
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 18 August 2026 and its agenda
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 18 August 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 – Year Three: April 2025 to March 2026 Update Report ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report presents the third annual update report on the Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028. It highlights progress in the delivery of the five strategic priorities and supporting actions within the Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Communities and Housing Policy Board: 2.1 Notes the progress made in implementing the actions of the Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 in the period 2025/26, as set out in Appendix 1 of this report. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 places a duty on local authorities to prepare a five-year local housing strategy which is informed by an assessment of housing provision and related services within the area. 3.2 Renfrewshire’s Local Housing Strategy for 2023-2028 was approved at the Communities and Housing Policy Board on 31 October 2023.
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PUBLIC 3.3 The Local Housing Strategy sets out the strategic approach of the Council and its partners to delivering high quality housing and housing related services across all tenures to meet identified housing need in Renfrewshire. It also seeks to provide a clear direction for strategic housing investment. 3.4 The Local Housing Strategy links with several key plans and strategies for Renfrewshire including the Local Development Plan, Health and Social Care Partnership Strategic Plan and the Community Plan. 3.5 The Local Housing Strategy contains five Strategic Priorities that take account of current national and local policy priorities. Progress in delivering the five strategic priorities and related actions within the Local Housing Strategy is reported annually to this Board. 3.6 Following consideration by the Board, the update report will be published on the Council’s website. 4. Summary of progress 4.1 The Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 – Year Three: April 2025 to March 2026 Update Report is attached as Appendix 1. It sets out the key achievements and progress made in achieving the strategic priorities of the Local Housing Strategy in 2025/26 as follows: • Strategic Priority 1: The supply and delivery of housing is increased across all tenures to meet the housing needs of different groups and create attractive and sustainable places • Strategic Priority 2: People live in high quality, well managed homes in sustainable neighbourhoods • Strategic Priority 3: Address the challenges of the climate emergency, delivering homes that are warm, energy efficient and fuel poverty is minimised • Strategic Priority 4: Prevention of homelessness and providing support for those in housing need • Strategic Priority 5: People can live independently for as long as possible in their own home and the different housing needs of people across Renfrewshire are being met 4.2 The report demonstrates that progress is being made against the actions associated with each of the Strategic Priorities set out in the Local Housing Strategy including: • the delivery of new social housing and the Council’s regeneration and renewal programme;
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PUBLIC • the preparation of community-prepared Local Place Plans many of which include housing aspirations; • support from the Council for private homeowners; • tackling fuel poverty; • addressing housing needs including homelessness; • and helping people stay in their own homes through adaptations and repairs. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – The financial implications of implementing this strategy are incorporated into the Council and the Housing Revenue Account plans. No new financial implications are introduced by this report. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – The Local Housing Strategy is considered to support the Renfrewshire Community Plan 2017-2027, particularly the theme of Our Renfrewshire is thriving through encouraging people to stay here and attracting new people to settle here; and making sure infrastructure (such as housing) is in place to support growth in the local population. It is considered to support the Council Plan 2022-2027 (June 2024 refresh) particularly the Place priority of ensuring Renfrewshire has a supply of green, high-quality, affordable, cross-tenure homes in the right places to meet current and future demands; and the Green priority of working towards a net zero Renfrewshire. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights - (a) The Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 was subject to Equality, Children’s Rights and Wellbeing and Fairer Scotland Duty Impact Assessment. This assessment found no negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights. While the recommendations included in this annual report are for noting only, if required, the impact of implementing Local Housing Strategy actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of any additional assessment will be published on the Council’s website.
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PUBLIC 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. Climate Risk – N/A 13. Children’s Rights – This report does not cover a new policy, function or strategy or a substantive change to an existing policy, function or strategy which will have an impact on children’s rights. 14. Cosla Policy Position – N/A ___________________________________________________________________ Appendix 1 Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 – Year Three: April 2025 to March 2026 Update Report List of Background Papers (a) Background Paper 1 Report to Communities and Housing Policy Board, 31 October 2023: Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028. The foregoing background papers will be retained within Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Services for inspection by the public for the prescribed period of four years from the date of the meeting. The contact officer within the service is Alan Williamson, Strategy and Place Manager, alan.williamson@renfrewshire.gov.uk ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Alan Williamson, Strategy and Place Manager Email: alan.williamson@renfrewshire.gov.uk, 07811 053968
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1 PUBLIC Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3: April 2025 to March 2026 Update Report
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 2 PUBLIC 1. Introduction 1.1 The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires local authorities to produce a local housing strategy that sets outs its strategy, priorities and plans for the delivery of housing and housing related services. 1.2 The Renfrewshire Council Local Housing Strategy (LHS 2023-2028) is Renfrewshire’s fourth local housing strategy and sets out the strategic vision for housing and housing-related services in Renfrewshire and seeks to provide a clear direction for strategic housing investment. 1.3 LHS 2023-2028 identifies five strategic priorities: 1. The supply and delivery of housing is increased across all tenures to meet the housing needs of different groups and create attractive and sustainable places; 2. People live in high quality, well managed homes in sustainable neighbourhoods; 3. Address the challenges of the climate emergency, delivering homes that are warm, energy efficient and fuel poverty is minimised; 4. Prevention of homelessness and providing support for those in housing need; and 5. People can live independently for as long as possible in their own home and the different housing needs of people across Renfrewshire are being met. 1.4 LHS 2023-2028 identifies 43 actions to support these strategic priorities (see Appendix 1). 1.5 There is a statutory requirement to keep local housing strategies under review, and local authorities are expected to undertake a review annually and make the report publicly available. This report serves as the annual review.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 3 PUBLIC 2. Strategic Context 2.1 The LHS 2023-2028 links with a number of other local plans and strategies for Renfrewshire including the Local Development Plan 2021, Renfrewshire’s Community Plan 2017- 2027, Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero and the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership Strategic Plan, as well as helping to deliver national priorities, for example those set out in the Scottish Government’s Housing to 2040 document. 2.2 The national and local context can change over the five-year period of the strategy, which can influence the delivery of actions. Some recent local and national policy context changes are set out below. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 2.3 The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 received Royal Assent in November 2025. The Act’s focus is mainly on homelessness prevention and the private rented sector with some more minor changes including tenants’ rights in relation to pets. Most of the key measures in the Act are set to be phased in through secondary legislation between 2026 and 2028. 2.4 One of the most significant aspects of the Act is the introduction of a new “ask and act duty” which places a duty on the Council and other public bodies to help prevent homelessness. Renfrewshire Council is part of a pilot project to inform approaches to the “ask and act” duties, the outcome of which will help the Scottish Government develop its national guidance on the implementation of the duties. Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 2.5 The Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026 were introduced in March 2026. The Regulations mandate strict timelines for landlords to address damp and mould issues and will become effective from 6 October 2026. Applying to both social and private rented sectors, the aim of these Regulations is to prevent ill-health and fatalities caused by toxic mould exposure. Energy Efficiency/Climate Change 2.6 In November 2025, the Scottish Government announced a pause on the introduction of the Buildings (Heating and Energy Performance) and Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill. The Government did publish a draft of the Bill which proposes to set a target for decarbonising heating systems by
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 4 PUBLIC the end of 2045. Essentially, the target would aim to reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions that are directly caused by the combustion of fossil fuels for heating (as well as cooling and providing hot water within) buildings in Scotland. The draft Bill also proposes to give Scottish Ministers powers to make regulations to set minimum energy performance standards for buildings and powers to facilitate the expansion of heat networks. The National Housing Emergency 2.7 The Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency in May 2024, and housing pressures and issues contributing to this continued across Scotland during 2025/2026. Within Renfrewshire these pressures have included increasing demands on homelessness services and temporary accommodation, and an increasing number of applicants on the Council’s housing waiting list. 2.8 The Scottish Government published the Housing Emergency Action Plan in September 2025. The plan sets out an accelerated programme of action to reduce the number of households – particularly families with children – living in unsuitable or temporary accommodation and to build for Scotland’s future. 2.9 One of the main actions taken has been to increase the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget and the announcement of the establishment of “More Homes Scotland”, a national housing agency intended to streamline and accelerate housing delivery and invest and drive improvements across the housing system. It is expected that More Homes Scotland will start operating from 2027-28 and be fully functional in 2028/2029.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 5 PUBLIC 3. Achievements and progress 2025-2026 Key achievements and progress in delivering Strategic Priority 1: The supply and delivery of housing is increased across all tenures to meet the housing needs of different groups and create attractive and sustainable places 3.1 Ninety-eight new affordable homes were completed in 2025/26 over three development sites with a further 319 new homes currently under construction (LHS 2023-2028 Action 3). 3.2 Sutherland Street, Paisley by Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association - 35 new homes completed on the site of former tenements and student accommodation, offering a mix of two and three- bedroom houses and flats for social rent. The new homes form part of the wider regeneration of Paisley’s West End. 3.3 Cartha Crescent, Paisley by Williamsburgh Housing Association - 33 new homes completed, providing a mix of two and three-bedroom homes on a brownfield site in south-east Paisley.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 6 PUBLIC 3.4 Hawkhead, Paisley by Link Housing Association - 30 two-bedroom flatted properties completed as part of a mixed tenure residential development. 3.5 Development work is underway at the following sites which will deliver 319 new units of social rented housing. Site Social Housing Provider Number of Units Johnstone Castle, Johnstone Link Group/C -urb 68 Orchard St, Paisley Paisley Housing Association 50 Bishopton (phase 3a) Loretto Housing Association 46 Gallowhill, Paisley Renfrewshire Council 65 Howwood Road Johnstone (site 1) Renfrewshire Council 70 Bishopton (phase 4) Loretto Housing Association 20 Site at Johnstone Castle, Link/C-urb Site at Dargavel Village, Bishopton, Loretto
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 7 PUBLIC 3.6 In addition to new build social rented homes, 42 established properties were purchased by the Council and local housing associations in 2025/26, using grant funding from the Scottish Government to provide additional housing for social rent. 3.7 Renfrewshire’s Strategic Housing Investment Programme 2026-2031 (SHIP) was approved in October 2025. This sets out how grant funding will be used to support delivery of affordable homes across Renfrewshire over the next 5 years. 3.8 In March 2026, the Scottish Government issued 4-year resource planning assumption (RPA) figures. These figures provide an increased level of grant support for delivering affordable housing in Renfrewshire totalling £80.206m over 2026-27 to 2029-30. The multi-year resource planning assumption provides greater certainty on funding levels across the period of the SHIP. 3.9 The Scottish Government also updated affordable housing investment benchmarks, being the conditionally available levels of funding to develop homes, with a 4.6% increase across all benchmarks (except for that related to zero direct emissions heating systems which was increased by approximately 24.7%). The new ‘baseline’ benchmark based on a 3-person equivalent home for city and urban authorities is £100,145 for registered social landlords and £91,800 for local authorities. The benchmark can be increased based on additional features being included in the funded property. 3.10 Preparation of the next Renfrewshire Local Development Plan (LDP 3) is progressing with the new plan programmed to be adopted in 2028 (LHS 2023-2028 Action 1). In October 2025, the Council submitted its LDP3 Evidence Report to Scottish Ministers, which successfully passed the gatecheck assessment in December 2025. A public consultation was held between November 2025 and January 2026, for communities and the development industry to submit suggestions for land use and development sites to be considered in preparing the new plan. Most suggestions related to proposed housing sites. The final LDP3 will set out strategy, policy and proposals for the use of land and building in Renfrewshire up to 2038 and beyond. It will set out a local Housing Land Requirement based on housing need and demand evidence and a range of other factors.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 8 PUBLIC Key achievements and progress in delivering Strategic Priority 2: People live in high quality, well managed homes in sustainable neighbourhoods 3.11 Renfrewshire Council’s Housing Regeneration and Renewal Programme continued in 2025/26 (LHS 2023-2028 Action 5), with activities including: • Engagement with communities across the regeneration programme, with drop in and community events held as and when required to keep residents informed. • Consultation with owners in the Howwood Road retention area which identified 18 owners willing to participate in enhanced mixed tenure improvement works. • Positive negotiations resulting in the acquisition of a further 8 private properties within regeneration areas that have been approved for demolition, bringing the total acquired to date to 72 of 89 properties approved for demolition. • At Waverley Road, Paisley, demolition of 12 blocks of tenement flats has been completed and an event was held to showcase energy improvements and design features proposed for the retained blocks. Residents were also shown draft environmental improvements to provide feedback on before plans are finalised. • Active engagement with owners in mixed tenure blocks across the regeneration programme continued and is yielding positive results with increased participation already visible within the Auchentorlie, Paisley and Howwood Road, Johnstone areas. • External block improvements to 5 blocks within the Howard Street area and 4 blocks in the Auchentorlie area, both Paisley, have been completed with a further 5 blocks agreed for future phases of works across these areas. • Two phases of demolition were carried out in the Thrushcraigs area of Paisley and a further phase of demolition took place in the Springbank area of Paisley. • Feasibility studies were carried out across the Broomlands, Thrushcraigs and Springbank areas (all Paisley) to inform newbuild development requirements. Demolition at Thrushcraigs Crescent, Paisley
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 9 PUBLIC 3.12 Efforts continue to support housing investment and development projects in Renfrewshire’s town centres (LHS 2023-2028 Action 6). The 2025 Housing Land Audit includes 12 sites in town centre locations. There is interest from registered social landlords in taking opportunities to deliver new affordable homes in Paisley Town Centre or within its vicinity. This includes the former site of Paisley Grammar School. The emerging Local Development Plan and updates of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan will continue to identify new opportunities for residential development in town centres to support an increase in town centre living. 3.13 The Orchard Street tenement refurbishment in Paisley (left) continued during 2025/26. This is a complex project in a key town centre location, covering five tenement blocks of both residential and commercial property and a category B listed building. On completion the project will provide 50 refurbished flats for social rent by Paisley Housing Association. Tenement refurbishment at Orchard Street, Paisley 3.14 Seven long-term empty properties were brought back into use during the 2025/26 financial year following advice and assistance offered to owners from Renfrewshire Council’s More Homes Officer (LHS 2023-2028 Action 7). In the same period, Renfrewshire Council applied for project funding from the Scottish Government in conjunction with Shelter for an additional More Homes Officer and to facilitate a geographic information system (GIS) based approach to managing empty homes data. This application was successful, and the additional resource will help identify priority areas to increase the number of long-term empty properties brought back into use over the next 2 years. 3.15 Across Renfrewshire various community groups prepared Local Place Plans with the help of funding made available from the Council (LHS 2023-2028 Action 8). These are community-led plans that focus on the existing and future use of land and set out proposals for potential developments in the community. Nine Local Place Plans have been prepared by local communities and were submitted to the Council for validation and registration. These cover Bridge of Weir, Houston, Paisley West and Central, Inchinnan, Renfrew, Langbank, Lochwinnoch, Paisley East
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 10 PUBLIC and Whitehaugh, and Ralston. Other communities are preparing or considering preparation of Local Place Plans. Several of the prepared Local Place Plans raise issues related to housing within their communities. This includes suggesting possible sites for housing development and general support for housing that meets local people’s needs. 3.16 The Council supports owners to maintain and repair their home primarily through the provision of advice and assistance. During 2025/26, the Council’s Owner Services Team provided 1,193 owners with information and advice on property condition and repairs issues and 51 private homeowners were awarded grant support for major capital investment works (LHS 2023-2028 Action 12). 3.17 During 2025/26 over 200 enquiries were received about the Council’s “Missing Shares” scheme which provide owners in tenement blocks the opportunity to apply for the Council to pay a portion of essential common repair costs where there are unresponsive or uncooperative owners. The Council funded 4 missing shares in 3 different tenement blocks, benefitting 29 owners and helping to prevent these blocks falling into further disrepair (LHS 2023-2028 Action 14). 3.18 The Council continues to ensure that privately rented residential properties are safe and that landlords are "fit and proper" persons to manage homes (LHS 2023-2028 Action 19). As of 31 March 2026, there were 6,893 registered landlords with 11,128 registered properties in Renfrewshire. Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, two landlords were refused registration by the Regulatory Functions Board. A further nine were refused due to failures to confirm compliance with their legal responsibilities as a landlord on their application for registration, relevant to the safety and suitability of let properties. The Council’s Environmental Health Team investigated 45 complaints about private rental property and issued 133 Rent Penalty Notices in the year to 31 March 2026.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 11 PUBLIC Key achievements and progress in delivering Strategic Priority 3: Address the challenges of the climate emergency, delivering homes that are warm, energy efficient and fuel poverty is minimised 3.19 In April 2025 the Council secured £1.8m grant funding from the Scottish Government to support the replacement of gas heating in two high rise blocks in Gallowhill, Paisley (right) with a ground source heat pump system providing sustainable clean heating for 180 homes. This is the first time a local authority in Scotland has deployed a ground source heat pump system of this nature and scale. During 2025/2026 on-site pre- enabling work started and borehole networks were completed followed by significant groundworks (LHS 2023-2028 Action 22). 3.20 Other investment in existing housing to improve energy efficiency in 2025/26 included: • Williamsburgh Housing Association upgraded 31 homes with internal wall insulation, continuing its rolling annual programme of investment. This was supported by £48,250 grant funding. • Renfrewshire Council homes benefited from a range of external improvement works, with 1,132 installations completed. This included measures such as external wall insulation (EWI), roof and gutter replacement, windows and door renewals, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and improvements to loft insulation. Collectively, these enhancements extend the lifespan of the housing stock, enhance building performance and contribute to improved living conditions for residents. This includes eight blocks in the Auchentorlie/Seedhill area of Paisley which received significant upgrades including solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, external wall insulation (EWI), roof and gutter replacement, windows and door replacement, and loft insulation.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 12 PUBLIC Block at Auchentorlie Crescent, Paisley before and after investment works 3.21 A Net Zero Pilot Project in Houston Place in Elderslie (left) was completed by the Council in October 2025, supported by £254,000 grant from the Scottish Government. 3.22 This project demonstrated a whole house retrofit approach to eight terraced council homes. Gas central heating systems were changed to a clean heating source with Air Source Heat Pumps installed to provide efficient, renewable heating and hot water. A range of further property enhancements were made including solar panels, external wall insulation, triple glazing, loft insulation and new external doors. 3.23 These works will help alleviate fuel costs and provide comfortable, high performing energy efficient homes. The insight gained from this pilot will aid design of future schemes.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 13 PUBLIC 3.24 Various fuel poverty/energy advice services operated across Renfrewshire in 2025/26 (LHS 2023-2028 Action 26). Examples include: • Williamsburgh Housing Association delivered over £1 million in financial gains, including £145,889 in energy support to tenants during 2025/26, alongside providing 1,350 interventions to assist households facing ongoing energy costs and financial pressures. • Renfrewshire Council’s energy advocates supported residents of all tenures, helping with fuel debt reduction, supplier disputes, advice on insulation and heating upgrades, supplier switching and energy use. During 2025/26, 546 referrals were received and resulted in £130,563 in savings. • Paisley Housing Association was successful in being awarded £480,000 from the energy industry voluntary redress scheme to deliver an energy advocacy service for all FLAIR Housing Associations across 2026/27 and 2027/28. This project is going live on 1st June 2026. • The Council’s Energy Management Unit manage the Energy Company Obligation ECO Flex 4 funding which is a UK Government energy efficiency scheme administered by Ofgem. It aims to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty. In 2025/26 grant funding of £597,000 was requested, resulting in an annual CO2 saving of 118,805 kg. 3.25 Through the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Scotland: Area Based Scheme funding is made available for local authorities to manage projects to improve energy efficiency in homes. In 2025/26 £252,663 was drawn down to support private owners across Renfrewshire. Funding of £83,400 was used to support 7 owners within the Council’s regeneration programme and mixed tenure blocks investment projects in locations across Renfrewshire (LHS 2023-2028 Action 30). Works including external wall insulation and associated measures were carried out to 20 flatted properties, with 13 Council tenants benefitting from the works which were funded by the Council through the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme. 3.26 In August 2025 the Council appointed Changeworks as a managing agent to deliver energy efficiency works to eligible fully private houses and blocks. Funding of £169,263 was drawn down to support participating owners in the Lochfield area of Paisley.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 14 PUBLIC Key achievements and progress in delivering Strategic Priority 4: Prevention of homelessness and providing support for those in housing need 3.27 Actions to respond to continued homelessness pressures in 2025/26 included: • Registered social landlords increased the number of lets made to homeless applicants to 217 in 2025/26, compared to 207 in the previous year. 386 properties, or 56% of general Council lets were allocated to statutory homeless applicants, slightly above the target of 55% (LHS 2023-2028 Action 34). • The number of furnished temporary accommodation properties had increased to 303 units by the end of March 2026 from 291 in September 2025 (LHS 2023-2028 Action 36). • Many of the 618 homeless applicants who moved into a social rented tenancy were supported through various tenancy sustainment services provided by the Council and partners. 3.28 The Housing First approach is aimed at people who have multiple and complex needs and seeks to prevent homelessness and repeat homelessness (LHS 2023-2028 Action 37). This approach has continued to expand in 2025/26 via the following activities: • RCA Trust’s Opening Doors initiative was launched in 2025/26 which supports individuals experiencing and alcohol and gambling issues to sustain their tenancies. This has been extended into 2026/2027. • Blue Triangle’s WRAP (Working to Reconnect + Achieve Potential) intensive housing support initiative, focussing on setting up and sustaining tenancies and an outreach service to help participants engage with relevant psychiatric, mental health and addiction services. • Renfrewshire Council’s in house provision of housing support (Housing Support+). 3.29 During 2025/26, a total of 210 new individuals were supported through the Housing First approach, with capacity to support up to 100 service users at any one time. (LHS 2023-2028 Action 35). 3.30 Renfrewshire Council launched the New Harbour Project in March 2026. This in-house, housing-led and trauma-informed model prioritises individuals experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness linked to drug and/or alcohol use, with a particular focus on women. Delivery of this new initiative, which is being funded from the Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership and funding from the former Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Commission is be led by a dedicated in- house team and complements the other Housing First related wraparound support measures we have in place in Renfrewshire. The initiative can support approximately 25 service users at any one time (LHS 2023-2028 Action 37).
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 15 PUBLIC 3.31 Renfrewshire was awarded funding as part of a national initiative to prevent homelessness before it occurs. The Scottish Government has committed £4m to support 15 pilot projects across Scotland, with Renfrewshire’s Community Planning Partnership amongst those selected. The pilot will embed the new ‘ask and act’ duties within community and statutory services, ensuring that staff proactively identify housing instability and take early action to prevent homelessness. Led by the Health and Social Care Partnership, in collaboration with NHSGGC and a range of local partners, the project will prioritise improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for individuals at risk.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 16 PUBLIC Key achievements and progress in delivering Strategic Priority 5: People can live independently for as long as possible in their own home and the different housing needs of people across Renfrewshire are being met 3.32 Care and Repair Renfrewshire provides free advice and practical assistance to people who are older or have disabilities (LHS 2023-2028 Action 38). The aim is to enable small repairs and major adaptations to be carried out to allow people to maintain their independence and remain in their homes comfortably, safely and securely. 3.33 In 2025/26, Care and Repair Renfrewshire: • completed 75 adaptations • completed 1,406 repair jobs through the Small Repairs Service for older and disabled people • dealt with 76 advice cases 3.34 Seventy-five homeowners were awarded grant support for adaptations following referral from the Health and Social Care Partnership who work closely with Housing Services and Care and Repair Renfrewshire. 3.35 In 2025/26, Renfrewshire Council completed 378 adaptations within 283 council homes. 3.36 Working with the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, two properties in the newbuild Council housing development at Gallowhill will be provided to meet complex care needs. These properties will include features to meet specific needs of this client group in a community setting (LHS 2023-2028 Action 41). 3.37 The Council’s Refugee Resettlement Team was supporting 285 households across Renfrewshire as at the end of May 2026. During 2025-2026, the team saw a small increase in arrivals from Afghanistan and assisted the Scottish Government’s Medical Evacuation Scheme by supporting a family evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment in Scotland (LHS 2023-2028 Action 42).
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 17 PUBLIC 3.38 The Wellbeing Hub has continued to deliver activities which support integration, community cohesion, and participation in line with COSLA’s key strategic priorities for local authorities. 3.39 Links have now been established with a local charity, Pachedu, to strengthen community- based support and partnership working. The Know Your Rights sessions have also helped strengthen links with education colleagues, enabling a more coordinated approach to the provision of support in the community. 3.40 A range of Hub activities has also provided opportunities for informal language practice, complementing formal ESOL provision, where collaboration with West College Scotland and Community Learning and Development (CLAD) continues to expand language support into 2026/27.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 18 PUBLIC Appendix 1 The Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 List of Actions Strategic Priority 1 The supply and delivery of housing is increased across all tenures to meet the housing needs of different groups and create attractive and sustainable places 1 Identify and maintain a continuous supply of housing land in sustainable locations across Renfrewshire to support delivery of a mix of housing types and tenures to meet housing need and demand. 2 Support development of previously used and brownfield sites making best use of existing and planned infrastructure. 3 Deliver the rolling affordable housing supply programme set out in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan to deliver new energy efficient and digitally enabled homes and identify new projects that contribute to meeting the strategic priorities of this Local Housing Strategy. 4 Make use of the Affordable Housing Policy to increase the supply of affordable housing and help create mixed sustainable communities. Strategic Priority 2 People live in high quality, well managed homes in sustainable neighbourhoods 5 Deliver local regeneration strategies providing new affordable, energy efficient and digitally enabled homes in sustainable places that reflect Renfrewshire Council’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions’. 6 Continue to support town centre action plans and support housing investment and development projects in Renfrewshire’s town centres. 7 Support owners of empty properties to bring these homes back into productive use. 8 Support local communities in the preparation of community led Place Plans. 9 Develop approaches to maximise investment in Council homes and privately owned homes within the Council’s regeneration and renewal areas. 10 Develop and implement a multi-disciplinary approach to neighbourhood renewal plans. 11 Continue to address Below Tolerable Standard properties across Renfrewshire. 12 Continue to provide advice and assistance to private homeowners through the Scheme of Assistance. 13 Undertake a review of the Council’s Scheme of Assistance for private homeowners taking into account legislative changes. 14 Continue the Missing Shares pilot for older tenement property and review its effectiveness.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 19 PUBLIC 15 Increase uptake of factoring services providing a co-ordinated maintenance regime for mixed tenure blocks. 16 Implement Revised Council Housing Asset Management Strategy. 17 Monitor the operation of the private rented market in Renfrewshire. 18 Provide additional support, advocacy and representation for people living in private rented tenancies. 19 Continue to make effective use of enforcement actions against private landlords who fail to meet the required standards in relation to the management and maintenance of their property. Strategic Priority 3 Address the challenges of the climate emergency, delivering homes that are warm, energy efficient and fuel poverty is minimised 20 Implement the housing-related actions within Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero that contribute towards Renfrewshire’s net zero targets. 21 In newbuild affordable homes, the Council and housing associations will use renewable technology and other measures to provide energy efficient, well-ventilated homes that are low or zero emissions and meet the Scottish Government’s New Build Heat Standard Regulations effective from 1 April 2024. 22 Where feasible, retrofit existing social rented homes with renewable technology and other measures to improve aspects including energy efficiency, heating, ventilation and carbon emissions; including alternatives to gas boilers such as heat pumps and assessing suitability of properties to connect to heat networks if within a heat network zone. 23 Encourage and support owners and private landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties to meet specific targets, reduce fuel bills and carbon emissions; accessing funding opportunities as appropriate, to achieve this. 24 (a) Private housebuilders will be required to meet the New Build Heat Standard Regulations effective from 1 April 2024 for new buildings that apply for a building warrant. (b) Where feasible, new developments will connect to heat networks where developments are within heat network zones to provide energy efficient homes that reflect Renfrewshire Council’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions 25 Work towards meeting the national fuel poverty targets and reducing the amount of people affected by fuel poverty across Renfrewshire. 26 The Council and housing associations operating in Renfrewshire will continue to provide good quality fuel poverty advice, income maximisation and information to tenants, owners and private tenants. 27 Support the preparation and implementation of a Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) that sets out a long term energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation strategy for Renfrewshire.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 20 PUBLIC 28 The Council and housing associations operating in Renfrewshire will work towards meeting the requirements and milestones of the emerging Social Housing Net Zero Standard (SHNZS) for social rented housing. 29 All Council newbuild homes meet or exceed Section 7, Silver Level Aspects 1 and 2 of the 2011 Building Regulations – energy for space heating. 30 The Council and housing associations operating in Renfrewshire will maximise the number of privately owned or privately rented properties who participate in energy efficiency and low carbon improvement activities, including Scottish Government Energy Efficient Scotland Area Based Schemes (EES:ABS), as part of the wider improvements to improve the energy efficiency of homes. 31 Engage with private landlords to provide support and encourage energy efficiency improvements in line with proposals set out in the Heat in Buildings Bill. 32 Promote and support available energy efficiency measures to both private owners and private landlords, including obtaining financial support. Strategic Priority 4 Prevention of homelessness and providing support for those in housing need 33 Review the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan 2019-2024 and make recommendations on future approaches to homelessness in Renfrewshire. 34 Increase the number and proportion of social housing lets being let to homeless applicants. 35 Continue to strengthen the approach to prevention and repeat homelessness by providing holistic wraparound support to households in Renfrewshire. 36 Continue to assess requirements for temporary accommodation and provide appropriate supply, in light of aims set out in the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan and current trends in homelessness. 37 Build on the rapid rehousing approach to ensure access to specialist services is readily available via robust pathways for homeless people with complex needs, including mental health and harmful alcohol and/or drugs use. Strategic Priority 5 People can live independently for as long as possible in their own home and the different housing needs of people across Renfrewshire are being met 38 Work with partners and stakeholders to provide housing and housing related support opportunities for older and vulnerable people to help them live independently and healthily in their own home. 39 Support partners in the development and implementation of a Renfrewshire Dementia Action Plan reflecting the objectives and priorities of the Dementia Strategy for Scotland 2023. 40 Increase the supply of new housing that meets the needs of older people and those with mobility difficulties.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 21 PUBLIC 41 Work in partnership with the Housing and Social Care Partnership to identify specialist housing and housing related support opportunities for people with particular needs in Renfrewshire and in taking specific initiatives forward. 42 Continue to support the various refugee and asylum programmes including the provision of settled accommodation. 43 Following the publication of the Scottish Government’s June 2023 Action Plan and the emerging associated toolkit, we will consider options to best meet the housing needs of the Gypsy/Traveller community.
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Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 Year 3 2025-2026 Update Report 22 PUBLIC Chief Executive’s Service Renfrewshire Council Renfrewshire House Cotton Street Paisley PA1 1BR