Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 - Report
Renfrewshire Council · 28 October 2025
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 28 October 2025 and its agenda
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PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 28 October 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 Following consultation, the Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031, attached at Appendix 1, has been finalised for submission to the Scottish Government. 1.2 The Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 sets out a development programme of affordable housing projects across Renfrewshire that will be supported by Scottish Government funding through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Communities and Housing Policy Board: 2.1 Approves the Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031, set out in Appendix 1, for submission to the Scottish Government. _________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 The Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan outlines how Scottish Government funding for affordable housing will be targeted to help achieve the priorities set out in Renfrewshire’s Local Housing Strategy, supporting the delivery of a range of affordable housing projects across Renfrewshire. 3.2 As part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme process, the Scottish Government allocates grant funding, known as Resource Planning Assumptions, to individual Council areas.
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PUBLIC 3.3 The Scottish Government confirmed on 10th October 2025 that Renfrewshire Council has received an additional £0.175 from the National Acquisitions Fund to support affordable housing providers to acquire suitable homes for social rent on the open market. This additional funding increases Renfrewshire’s Resource Planning Assumption allocation for 2025/26 to £17.486 million. 3.4 The Resource Planning Assumption for Renfrewshire is only confirmed for one year and there remains uncertainty over the future level of future funding allocations. This funding uncertainty means that delivery timescales for projects may be subject to change. 3.5 Resource Planning Assumptions support the delivery of new affordable homes across Renfrewshire by providing grant support at benchmark rates. The Scottish Government benchmark grant rates are set at £87,763 for newbuild Council homes and £95,741 for newbuild social rented homes delivered by housing association partners. 3.6 Additional grant funding may be made available on top of the grant benchmark rates where affordable housing developers include specific qualitative design features related to zero emissions; the installation of automatic fire suppression systems; electric vehicle charging points; space for home working; provision of balconies and digital connectivity. 3.7 The Strategic Housing Investment Plan contains funding provision for the Council’s own newbuild development programme and projects being delivered by housing association partners. 3.8 The number of new homes and timescales for the delivery of individual projects will be refined as development proposals are finalised and as actual grant requirement is confirmed. All projects within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan are kept under review to ensure that resources made available to Renfrewshire can be fully utilised to add to the supply of high-quality affordable homes. 4. Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 4.1 The draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031 was approved for consultation by the Communities and Housing Policy Board on 19 August 2025. A 4-week consultation period followed which included all housing associations operating in Renfrewshire, the Health and Social Care Partnership, local stakeholder groups such as Community Councils and tenants’ and residents’ associations, community planning partners and Renfrewshire’s residents. 4.2 The Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031 attached at Appendix 1 takes account of feedback received from respondents and from individual meetings with housing association partners during the consultation period. 4.3 A total of 4 representations were received during the consultation period. A summary of the representations and associated amendments made in finalising the Strategic Housing Investment Plan are attached at Appendix 2.
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PUBLIC 4.4 Renfrewshire Council continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and Registered Social Landlords in the delivery of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan. This includes quarterly tripartite meetings with developing partners, the Scottish Government and Renfrewshire Council to monitor progress and seeking monthly updates on individual projects. In addition, there are opportunities for partners to engage at the Housing Provider Forum to discuss any emerging housing strategy and development issues. 4.5 Officers have met both Paisley Housing Association and Linstone Housing Association to discuss their comments and any issues raised and to reinforce that the Council welcome and support all Registered Social Landlords delivering new affordable homes across Renfrewshire. 4.6 The Strategic Housing Investment Plan has been updated to include: • A new site which will see Paisley Housing Association deliver 8 social rented units at 123 Neilston Road, Paisley in 2026/27; and, • Minor programming changes to projects to reflect updates received from Housing Association partners. 4.7 The Council continues to work closely with the Scottish Government, Housing Associations and other developing partners to manage and deliver the development programme and facilitate delivery of the affordable homes throughout Renfrewshire. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - Provision has been made within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Budget in relation to the projects where the Council is the developing organisation. An important assumption on this is that the Scottish Government Grant will be allocated according to the Resource Planning Assumptions outlined in the current plan. 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-qulaity, affordable, cross-tenure homes in the right places to meet current and future demands; and the Green priority of working towards a new zero Renfrewshire by 2030.
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PUBLIC 4. Legal - Conveyancing work associated with land disposals, and any site assembly and title changes or checks. All new Council contracts for new build affordable housing will require input from the contracts and project legal sections at the pre and post tender stages through to award. 5. Property/Assets - None. 6. Information Technology - None. 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety - None. 9. Procurement - None. 10. Risk - There is a potential risk to these plans associated with the availability of Scottish Government Grant in the absence of multi-year Resource Planning Assumptions. 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. Climate Risk - The Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan aims to deliver high quality, energy efficient homes in sustainable locations across Renfrewshire. 13. Children’s Rights – None. 14. Cosla Policy Position - None. _________________________________________________________ (a) Appendix 1 – Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 (b) Appendix 2 – Summary of consultation responses and amendments to SHIP ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Alan Williamson, Strategy and Place Manager Tel: 07811 053968; Email: alan.williamson@renfrewshire.gov.uk
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1 PUBLIC Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 2 PUBLIC Renfrewshire’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan The Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) sets out a national framework to support the development of new affordable homes. As part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme process, local authorities are required to prepare a Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) each year that outlines where grant funding provided to Councils by the Scottish Government will be used to the support delivery of new affordable homes. The Renfrewshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 has been informed by discussions with the Scottish Government and housing association partners operating in Renfrewshire. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan is submitted to the Scottish Government and a Strategic Local Programme Agreement (SLPA) for Renfrewshire will form the basis of individual agreements between the Scottish Government, Renfrewshire Council and housing association partners on funding for specific affordable housing projects. Aligning with Renfrewshire’s Local Housing Strategy and Development Plan The Strategic Housing Investment Plan takes account of the Scottish Government’s Housing and Planning Delivery Framework (HPDF) which promotes more efficient collaboration between Housing and Planning Services in relation to the Local Housing Strategy, Housing Need and Demand Assessment and national planning policies. It provides details of affordable housing projects in Renfrewshire that will assist in meeting the strategic priorities of Renfrewshire’s Local Housing Strategy and support the delivery of the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2. These projects are expected to be supported by Scottish Government grant funding over the short, medium and longer term. Projects included within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan will assist in providing the right homes in the right places and contribute to providing safe, warm and energy efficient homes that meet people’s housing needs and contribute to the creation of thriving sustainable communities.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 3 PUBLIC Renfrewshire’s Local Housing Strategy The fourth Local Housing Strategy for Renfrewshire was approved at the Council’s Communities and Housing Policy Board in October 2023. The Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 looks to build on past successes whilst aiming to meet need and demand for both housing and housing related services. The Local Housing Strategy includes 5 strategic priorities as shown below: 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. 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. Link/C~urb Housing Association, social rented development, Hawkhead, Paisley Development Plan for Renfrewshire Renfrewshire’s current Development Plan consists of National Planning Framework 4 and the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2021 (LDP2). Renfrewshire’s Development Plan supports the development of new homes that improve affordability, choice, accessibility and adaptability, including the provision of wheelchair accessible homes.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 4 PUBLIC When the Council is assessing projects included as part of this Strategic Housing Investment Plan, it will consider proposals against the policies in the National Planning Framework 4 and Renfrewshire LDP2. The Scottish Government’s Housing Programme The Scottish Government ‘Housing to 2040 Strategy’ includes a target to provide 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 with at least 70% of these homes to be developed for social rent. The Scottish Parliament declared a national housing emergency in May 2024 recognising a range of challenges facing the housing sector including pressures on homelessness services, high levels of people in temporary accommodation and a lack of affordable homes compared to high waiting lists. Renfrewshire Council are committed to contribute to addressing the national housing emergency and affordable housing supply targets. The Council will continue to work in partnership with the Scottish Government, our housing association partners, private developers and the construction industry to increase the delivery affordable homes throughout Renfrewshire in line with available funding. Sanctuary Scotland, social rented development, Sutherland Street, Paisley Resources for Affordable Housing Delivery The national funding position for the delivery of affordable homes improved in 2025. In 2025/26, Renfrewshire will receive a funding allocation in line with past allocations prior to 2024/25. Funding for 2025/26 is confirmed at £17.486 million compared to £13.181 million allocated in 2024/25.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 5 PUBLIC Prior to 2024/25, the Scottish Government provided Councils with multi-year Resource Planning Assumptions (RPA’s) to support longer term planning and delivery of projects within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan, providing some degree of certainty to facilitate longer term planning by housing providers. Due to pressures on national budgets, RPA’s in 2024/25 and 2025/26 were issued on a single year basis rather than as multi-year RPA’s. Scottish Government funding allocations beyond 2025/26 are still to be confirmed. It is likely that funding awards will continue to be made on a single year basis over the next few years. For the purpose of programming a five-year plan, the Strategic Housing Investment Plan estimates that an RPA of £15m will be available each year from 2026/27 to support the delivery of new affordable homes in Renfrewshire. Scottish Government Grant Benchmarks New affordable homes developed as part of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan are funded through a combination of Scottish Government grant and the developers own financial resources. Scottish Government grant support is provided at flexible benchmark rates for each affordable home developed. The Scottish Government benchmark grant rate is currently set at £87,763 for new build social rented Council homes and £95,741 for new build housing association homes. These grant rates are flexible which means projects may be eligible for a higher grant award per property following a detailed assessment of property mix, needs group, project viability and development costs. Affordable housing providers who develop affordable homes through a Section 75 Agreement on a larger private sector housing site are required to deliver homes at the benchmark rate. Funding Additional Design Features In addition to the basic flexible benchmark grant, additional grant may be provided from the Councils existing Resource Planning Assumption to support inclusion of specific quality and design features in new affordable homes, these features include: o The delivery of homes to Silver Level of the 2019 Building Regulations in respect of Energy for Space Heating; o The provision of balconies within flatted developments where the provision of private or communal outdoor space is not possible;
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 6 PUBLIC o The provision of space for home working or study where it is not possible to incorporate such space within the design of the homes under current space standards; o Digitally enabled homes with tenants able to arrange for an internet connection without the internet service provider having to provide additional cabling to the premises; o The installation of ducting infrastructure for electric vehicle charge point connectors; o Installation of electric vehicle charge points; o The installation of automatic fire suppression systems; and o Installation of heating systems which produce zero direct emissions at the point of use. Any additional grant required to support inclusion of any of these features is met from existing funding allocations from the Scottish Government - this can have an impact on the number of new affordable homes being delivered as the level of grant funding required per property increases. Funding for Acquisition of Private Housing (Rental Off the Shelf) and the National Acquisition Programme Provision has been included within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan in recent years to assist affordable housing providers to purchase appropriate properties for social rent on the open market by utilising Scottish Government Grant. The Scottish Government announced a two-year £80 million National Acquisitions Fund in April 2024, with additional funding allocations made to Councils to support open market acquisitions over the period 2024/25 and 2025/26. Renfrewshire Council received £346,000 from this national fund in 2025/26 which was supplemented by funding from the confirmed Resource Planning Assumption to provide over £1.5m to support affordable housing providers to acquire suitable homes for social rent on the open market. This allowance is subject to continuous review depending on the level of funding made available to Renfrewshire.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 7 PUBLIC Scottish Government Charitable Bond Funding (ALLIA) In addition to funding made available to Renfrewshire through the confirmed Resource Planning Assumption for 2025/26, Renfrewshire projects have previously successfully accessed Allia funding which is funding derived from the Scottish Governments Charitable Bonds investments programme. This is managed by Allia, a social investment charity. Each year income is generated from bonds which is then used by the Scottish Government’s More Homes Scotland team to support increasing the supply of homes by providing one off grants to affordable housing providers who have projects that align with the funds criteria. These additional funds have been used by Link/C~urb Housing Association on their development of 68 social rented homes in Johnstone Castle which are due to complete in June 2026. Council Tax on Empty and Second Homes In Renfrewshire, no direct funding is allocated to the affordable housing programme from revenue raised from empty or second homes with any revenue raised allocated to the Council’s General Fund to support wider Council priorities. This approach will continue due to ongoing pressures on overall Council budgets with any ring fencing of funds only likely to be considered when it is sustainable to do so. Meeting Renfrewshire’s Affordable Housing Needs and LHS Strategic Priorities The Strategic Housing Investment Plan aims to deliver a range of new affordable homes across Renfrewshire to meet housing needs and support the delivery of strategic priorities set out in the Renfrewshire Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028. When developing proposals for new affordable homes, the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan (LDP2) requires development to include a range of property types and sizes to meet different housing needs, including smaller one bedroom homes and larger three and four bedroom family homes throughout Renfrewshire. This also includes the delivery of accessible homes and homes designed to wheelchair accessible standards.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 8 PUBLIC Williamsburgh Housing Association, social rented development, Albert Road, Renfrew All affordable housing must be built to Housing for Varying Needs standards with flexibility built into the design to allow for future adaptation and reconfiguration to meet tenant and resident’s current and future needs. This Strategic Housing Investment Plan supports the development of high quality energy efficient affordable homes, recognising that good quality affordable housing can positively impact peoples’ lives and enhance Renfrewshire’s places. The Council will continue to work with housing association partners to determine the most appropriate property mix on a project by project basis taking account of Council and housing association waiting list data and the findings from the Glasgow Clyde Valley Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA3) and the Renfrewshire Housing Need and Demand study. A breakdown of property sizes for recently completed developments and those that have planning consent is included in Appendices 1 and 2. In recent years, Strategic Housing Investment Plans have primarily focused on adding to the supply of new build affordable homes for social rent, this will continue with this Strategic Housing Investment Plan. Whilst the focus will remain on adding to the supply of social rented homes in Renfrewshire, there is also a recognised need for alternative affordable housing options such as shared equity provision and Mid-Market Rent on larger affordable housing sites. The inclusion of new affordable homes, other than homes for social rent, will be considered on a site by site basis taking account of project viability and the availability of grant funding from the Scottish Government.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 9 PUBLIC The delivery of new affordable homes on private sector sites will continue through the application of Renfrewshire’s Affordable Housing Policy included in LDP2. Williamsburgh Housing Association, social rented development, Cartha Crescent, Paisley Particular Housing Needs The Local Housing Strategy emphasises the importance of providing homes that meet the particular needs of different groups with a focus on enabling people to live independently for as long as possible in their own homes and also in preventing homelessness. In recent years, Link/C~urb Housing Association completed a mixed general and particular needs social rented development in Paisley Town Centre that included 20 amenity standard homes and 5 fully wheelchair accessible homes. In March 2025, Loretto Housing Association also completed 4 fully wheelchair accessible homes as part of their East Lane development in Paisley. This Strategic Housing Investment Plan includes projects that will continue to contribute to meeting identified particular needs in Renfrewshire with mixed amenity housing and purpose built particular needs homes expected to be included across projects supported by grant funding. When planning new developments, early-stage discussions will take place with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to ensure that projects are viable, sustainable and capable of meetings tenants and residents’ needs.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 10 PUBLIC Link/C~urb Housing Association, social rented General and Particular Needs, Paisley Town Centre Wheelchair Accessible Housing When preparing proposals for new build developments, housing providers will be required to design homes that are able to meet occupants changing needs over time as well as the needs of an ageing population by incorporating design features that promote accessible and adaptable homes. Targets for the inclusion of wheelchair accessible homes as part of new build developments have been agreed and are included within the current Local Housing Strategy. The Local Housing Strategy requires that: New residential proposals must provide a minimum 10% of all dwellings designed to be easily adaptable for residents who are wheelchair users; and 5% of all new homes must be designed to wheelchair accessible standards. Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans Renfrewshire Council’s Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan (RRTP) details how those who are homeless will be provided with settled accommodation more quickly; spend reduced time in temporary accommodation and have more access to up-scaled support. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan aims to support the delivery of homes to meet the requirements of different needs groups, household types and sizes. The Council together with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership employ the Housing First Initiative to support those with multiple and complex needs,
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 11 PUBLIC Who are socially excluded and who have experienced repeat homelessness, with the Housing First Initiative an integral part of the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan, delivered by Turning Point Scotland’s Support Workers to provide tenancies, in conjunction with wrap-around support packages and provide assistance to access Health and Social Care Services. Within Renfrewshire, both the Council and its housing association partners continue to prioritise lets to homeless households with 52% of all available Council social rented homes and 39% of all available housing association homes let to homeless households in 2024/25. This includes lets to both existing and new build social rented housing with available properties allocated in line with applicant housing need and the housing providers allocation policy. Child Poverty New housing development has a key role in tackling child poverty through supporting the delivery of a range of property types and sizes that meet the needs of families, and the creation of high- quality energy efficient homes in sustainable communities that support health, wellbeing and educational attainment. This Strategic Housing Investment Plan aligns with the priority actions of Renfrewshire’s Local Child Poverty Action Report which aims to support the next generation to thrive within high quality affordable and accessible housing. Early discussions with housing association partners ensure that the housing mix proposed for each project takes account of housing waiting lists with this information reflected in terms of house sizes and any agreed property mix. This approach should ensure that smaller homes are included to meet the housing needs of individuals and smaller households as well as larger family homes that meet the needs of larger families and households with children to help address the needs of low- income families. It is recognised that a wide range of property types and sizes are required to meet identified housing needs on new affordable housing developments. As plans progress on individual sites and it becomes clearer what individual sites can accommodate, the importance of including larger family homes will be central to discussion with affordable housing providers in receipt of Scottish Government grant funding. This approach will support the aims of Renfrewshire’s Local Child Poverty Action Plan.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 12 PUBLIC Key Worker Housing Renfrewshire Council does not have a key worker policy in relation to access to affordable housing and has no specific identified housing need for key worker housing locally. Projects delivered through the Strategic Housing Investment Plan process are accessible to all households with homes allocated in line with the developing landlords local allocation policy. Refugee Resettlement Renfrewshire Council continues to work with the Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to determine what Renfrewshire may provide in terms of housing stock to support resettlement and asylum dispersal programmes. So far, most of the accommodation required has been smaller with one or two bedroom properties being used due to the arriving household size. Renfrewshire has continued to play its part in the national response by providing ongoing support. The number of homes required to support Renfrewshire’s contribution towards the national resettlement scheme will be kept under review. Gypsy/Travellers Provision The Council continues to review the need to allocate land or identity and progress appropriate projects to meet any identified housing needs of the Gypsy/Traveller community in Renfrewshire taking account of the Scottish Government’s Improving the lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers 2 Action Plan 2024-2026 published in September 2024. The Council notes the Scottish Government’s decision to manage potential Gypsy/Traveller sites and associated funding allocations alongside the existing Resource Planning Assumption model traditionally used to support settled development. This approach will support longer term planning and delivery of Gypsy/Traveller sites in Renfrewshire should a need be identified. At present, no projects are included within this plan. Should a requirement for accommodation/sites be identified, future updates of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan will include details of these projects.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 13 PUBLIC Travelling Showpeople Provision There are currently no permanent Travelling Showpeople sites in Renfrewshire. Through delivery of the strategic priorities included within the Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028 and the use of the Scottish Governments Accommodation Needs Toolkit (when available), the Council will identify if there is a need to allocate land to meet the housing needs of Travelling Showpeople with any identified need addressed through the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan/Action Delivery Programme. Renfrewshire Council Regeneration and Renewal Programme This plan continues to support the Council’s new build programme following the completion of new Council homes in Bishopton, Johnstone and at Ferguslie Park in Paisley. Over the period of the next Strategic Housing Investment Plan, Renfrewshire Council will continue to invest in its own new build social rented development programme to deliver high quality energy efficient homes to replace existing low demand housing or to add to the supply of Council housing with plans progressing to deliver homes in identified regeneration areas. This Strategic Housing Investment Plan includes these new build Council projects with Scottish Government grant funding expected to be made available to supplement the Council’s own investment in these new homes for social rent. As well as adding to the supply of new Council housing, the Council will make best use of its existing housing stock through targeted and enhanced investment – including works to the external fabric of properties as well as environmental improvements. More information on the Council’s Regeneration and Renewal Programme can be found on the Council’s website by visiting: Housing regeneration in Renfrewshire – Renfrewshire Website Town Centre Living As with previous Strategic Housing Investment Plans, investing in town centre residential development remains a key objective of this t Strategic Housing Investment Plan. Investment in affordable housing to support the wider regeneration of our town centres helps deliver population growth, improve the vitality and environment of town centres and can help support the creation of sustainable communities.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 14 PUBLIC Significant cross tenure new build development has taken place in town centres in recent years. In preparing the Strategic Housing Investment Plan there has been significant interest expressed by Housing Association partners to deliver new affordable homes primarily in and around Paisley Town Centre. A project line is included within Appendix 3 of this Strategic Housing Investment Plan in order to support further affordable housing development in Paisley town centre. Provision is included in the programme to deliver approximately 100 new affordable homes in and around the town centre should funding be confirmed by the Scottish Government. A number of development opportunities are currently being reviewed in terms of their viability and deliverability with new projects likely to be progressed over the next five-year period. Delivering New Affordable Homes in North and West Renfrewshire Affordable housing development in the North and West Renfrewshire villages can be challenging as most of the available land is in private ownership. The Council recognises that there is an unmet demand and limited supply of affordable housing in these areas. The Council will continue to pursue all opportunities to increase the supply of affordable housing in both North and West Renfrewshire, working with housing association partners and private developers to include social rented housing as either standalone developments or as part of mixed tenure private sector developments. Affordable housing provision within Dargavel Village will continue with 138 affordable homes completed so far by the Council and Loretto Housing Association for social rent. Loretto Housing Association are currently progressing a two stage development of a further 62 social rented homes in partnership with Dundas Homes. The first stage of development includes 46 homes which are due to complete in March 2027 with a further 16 homes also to be progressed at this location. Discussions are ongoing with Loretto Housing Association, Sanctuary Scotland and private developers to deliver a further 43 homes for social rent within Dargavel Village across two sites.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 15 PUBLIC In West Renfrewshire, three private sector sites that are allocated for residential use in the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2021 (LDP) offer the potential to deliver new social rented homes in Houston, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch through utilising the LDP’s affordable housing policy, subject to planning approval. The Council will continue to work with our housing association partners to increase the supply of social rented housing in West Renfrewshire, taking account of housing waiting list data and the outputs from the Renfrewshire Housing Need and Demand study prepared in support of the current Renfrewshire Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028. Tackling the Climate Crisis in Renfrewshire Tackling the Climate Crisis continues to be a priority for Renfrewshire Council with work progressing as part of Renfrewshire’s Plan for Net Zero and Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy. It is acknowledged that the changing climate has a direct impact on Renfrewshire’s housing and that some residents will be more vulnerable to this than others. Both Renfrewshire Council and its housing association partners are incorporating additional energy efficiency measures as part of new build design which will actively target reduced carbon emissions from new build development. Projects included within this Strategic Housing Investment Plan aim to tackle fuel poverty by maximising opportunities for innovative energy efficient development, with greener measures included within new build developments. Bringing Empty Homes Back into use The Council has a dedicated ‘More Homes Officer’ who works with owners of long-term empty properties to provide advice and assistance to support owners to bring long term empty properties back into productive use. The Council’s More Homes Officer also manages the Councils buy back and acquisitions scheme where properties that meet strategic objectives may be purchased and added to the Council’s lettable housing stock.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 16 PUBLIC Over the last five years, the Council’s More Homes Officer has successfully helped to bring more than 60 long term empty homes back into the effective housing supply with these homes adding to the supply of available homes in the affordable and private sectors. Programme Management and Project Prioritisation This Strategic Housing Investment Plan splits projects into three groups: (i) ‘Core Projects’; (ii) ‘Shadow Projects’ and (iii) ‘Longer Term Projects’. Projects within each group are shown in Appendix 3. The methodology used to prioritise projects is based on the potential availability of Scottish Government grant funding as well as the developers’ ability to progress each project at key milestones in term of site acquisition, design work, planning approval, procurement and potential site start date. This approach supports the programming of individual projects in terms of anticipated grant availability and the potential delivery timescales. These projects together form the proposed Strategic Housing Investment Plan with projects being delivered as funding becomes available. Delivery timescales are dependent on future funding allocations from the Scottish Government and the developer’s own capacity to progress sites. Projects included within the ‘Core Projects’ group will be progressed in the earlier years of the programme. Projects included within the ‘Shadow Projects’ group will be progressed as ‘Core Projects’ complete or as any additional funding becomes available or where the developing landlords has the capacity to ‘front fund’ projects to allow projects to proceed earlier than otherwise possible.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 17 PUBLIC Projects included in the ‘Longer Term Projects’ group are expected to progress over the longer term with grant funding only likely to become available towards the end of or indeed beyond the current five year Strategic Housing Investment Plan period. In terms of front funding, the Council or housing association partner may initially fund project development costs from their own resources, with grant being paid to developing organisation at the first available opportunity as funding becomes available. The use of a three tier project priority approach supports the effective management of available resources whilst permitting some flexibility that assists in addressing any slippage of projects in any given year. Projects in the ‘Shadow Projects’ group and in particular the ‘Longer Term Projects’ group may require extended lead in times to allow for site investigation works, value engineering works, site assembly or to arrange the necessary private finance to enable a development to proceed. All of which influence how projects are prioritised within the programme with all projects subject to regular review. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan development programme must be capable of adapting and responding to both delays in the delivery of projects and new affordable housing development opportunities to ensure that all funding available to Renfrewshire can be fully utilised. This may result in existing project delivery timescales changing or new opportunities being added to the programme between annual Strategic Housing Investment Plan updates. Any additional projects brought forward must align with the strategic priorities of the Local Housing Strategy with a clear funding mechanism in place that does not impact other ‘Core Projects’. Delivery Both the Council and its housing association partners will continue to look for efficiencies in construction methods and work with design teams to determine the suitability of non- traditional construction methods for projects included within this Strategic Housing Investment Plan.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 18 PUBLIC The Council will continue to explore options for joint working around innovative delivery mechanisms that support the delivery of affordable homes throughout Renfrewshire. Projects included within the ‘core’ element of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan are either currently progressing on site or are due to start on site soon with site investigation works already completed for these projects. Site investigation works for the majority of projects in the ‘shadow’ and ‘longer term’ programme have still to take place with the results of these investigations informing project viability. Housing Infrastructure Fund The Housing Infrastructure Fund provides Councils and housing association partners with additional grant to support the unlocking of challenging sites where the scale and nature of infrastructure costs would prevent these sites from being progressed as part of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan. In recent years, a number of Renfrewshire projects have successfully accessed the Housing Infrastructure Fund with housing association partners continuing to look at options to bid for support from the Housing Infrastructure Fund as and when required. At present, no project developer within this Strategic Housing Investment Plan is looking to access Housing Infrastructure Fund support, however this may change as developments conduct more detailed site investigations. Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme At present, no project within this Strategic Housing Investment Plan is currently utilising or been identified to seek funding from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. Monitoring Project Progress To monitor progress in delivering individual projects and ensure that resources are managed effectively, a range of project management activities are employed. This includes: • ongoing liaison between services within the Council and between the Council and housing association partners on specific projects; • quarterly tripartite meetings between the Council, individual housing association partners and the Scottish Government;
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 19 PUBLIC • regular internal officer group meetings to review progress in delivering the overall development programme; and, • a monthly review of project progress with all developers of affordable housing. Strategic Housing Investment Plan Appendices Appendix 1 details progress with projects currently on site as well as proposals for future projects identified. Appendix 2 shows recent affordable housing completions with a breakdown of property size delivered on each site. Appendix 3 lists projects that are currently progressing and/or expected to require grant funding as part of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan process. Equalities This Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031 includes housing provision for a range of different needs groups including housing for older people and those with physical disabilities. It has been informed by ongoing partnership working with the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to ensure that projects take account of opportunities to deliver housing that meets the needs of a range of households with specific needs. In line with The Equality Act 2010 and the associated protected characteristics, an Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment has been prepared alongside the preparation of this Strategic Housing Investment Plan to identify the likely or actual effects of it on people. The assessment includes identifying where there will be a positive impact and further opportunities to promote equality. The assessment did not identify any negative impacts on people in relation to this Strategic Housing Investment Plan.
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20 PUBLIC Appendix 1: Renfrewshire Affordable Housing Project Updates 1A: Projects completed in financial year 2024/25 Development Units Status Comment Napier Street, Linwood 51 Completed October 2024 51 social rented homes from Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association that add to the affordable housing supply in Linwood. This project completed in October 2024. Property sizes included 37 x 2 Bed, 14 x 3 Bed properties. East Lane, Paisley Town Centre 48 Completed March 2025 48 social rented homes by Loretto Housing Association which add to the affordable housing supply in central Paisley. Property sizes included 16 x 1 Bed, 32 x 2 Bed properties. Hawkhead, Paisley 5 Completed March 2025 5 New build terraced house acquisitions by Link/C~urb Housing Association as part of a large mixed tenure development. These complement 30 new social rented flats being developed at this location by Link Group. Property sizes included 5 x 3 Bed properties.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 21 PUBLIC 1B: Projects completed in financial year 2025/26, currently on site or due to start on site Development Units Status Comment Hawkhead, Paisley 30 Completed May 2025 30 social rented homes by Link/ C~urb Housing Association which add to the affordable housing supply in Paisley. Property sizes include 30 x 2 Bed properties. Paisley West End, Sutherland Street 35 Completed June 2025 35 social rented homes Sanctuary Scotland which add to the affordable housing supply in central Paisley. Property sizes include 28 x 2 Bed, 7 x 3 Bed properties. Cartha Crescent, Paisley 33 Completed July 2025 33 social rented homes by Williamsburgh Housing Association which add to the affordable housing supply in central Paisley. Property sizes include 12 x 2 Bed, 21 x 3 Bed properties. Johnstone Castle Phase II 68 On site, due to complete June 2026 Link/C~urb Housing Association are onsite delivering the second phase of affordable housing in Johnstone Castle. This development will provide 68 homes for social rent as well as infrastructure and green spaces. Property sizes include 40 x 2 Bed, 28 x 3 Bed properties. Orchard Street, Paisley 50 On site, due to complete September 2026 Work is progressing on the Comprehensive Tenement Improvement (CTI) project at Orchard Street/Causeyside Street, Paisley following 5 blocks of flats being designated as a Housing Renewal Area (HRA) in March 2017. The overall development is expected to complete in September 2026. Property sizes include 37 x1 bed, 13 x 2 bed properties Bishopton, Phase 3A 46 On site, due to complete March 2027 Loretto Housing Association are now on site developing 46 new homes for social rent that will add to the affordable housing supply in Dargavel Village, Bishopton.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 22 PUBLIC Development Units Status Comment This site is expected to provide 62 new homes for social rent across two phases (3A & 3B) with Phase 3B expected to include 16 additional homes for social rent following completion the 46 new homes that comprise Phase 3A. Property sizes include 12 X 1 bed, 27 x 2 bed, 7 x 3 bed properties Gallowhill, Paisley 65 On site, due to complete December 2026 Renfrewshire Council commenced on site in August 2025 and developing 65 new Council homes for social rent that will add to the affordable housing supply in the Gallowhill area. The overall development is expected to complete in December 2026. Property sizes include 9 x 1 bed, 23 x 2 bed, 26 x 3 bed, 4 x 4 bed, 3 x 5 bed properties Howwood Road, Johnstone (Site 1 of 2) 70 Off site, Due to start on site in November 2025 Renfrewshire Council regeneration area. Plans are being progressed to deliver 70 new Council homes in this first phase of development in the Howwood Road Area Johnstone with a site start expected later in 2025. Property sizes include 11 x 1 bed, 29 x 2 bed, 19 x 3 bed, 11 x 4 bed properties Bishopton, Phase 4 20 Off site, Due to start on site in September 2025 Loretto Housing Association are progressing plans for 20 new social rented homes that will add to the affordable housing supply in Dargavel Village, Bishopton. Property sizes include 20 x 2 bed properties
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 23 PUBLIC 1C: Projects expected to start on site in 2026/27 or later or when a projected site start date has still to be confirmed Development Units Status Comment West End - Remaining Sites 120 Off site, Start date tbc Sanctuary Scotland are progressing plans for approximately 120 affordable new homes developed as part of the regeneration of Paisley’s West End. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Bishopton, Phase 3B 16 Off site, Due to start on site around January 2027 Loretto Housing Association will progress development of 16 new homes for social rent following the completion of Bishopton Phase 3A which will provide an initial 46 new homes for social rent. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Bishopton, Phase 5 23 Off site, Start date tbc Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association are progressing plans for 23 new social rented homes that will add to the affordable housing supply in Dargavel Village, Bishopton. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Springbank, Paisley (Phase 1 of 2) 65 Off site, Due to start on site around January 2027 Renfrewshire Council regeneration area. Plans are being progressed to deliver around 65 new Council homes in this first phase of development in the Springbank Road Area of Paisley. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Foxbar Rivers, Paisley 45 Off site, Due to start on site around January 2027 This social rented development of around 45 homes by Renfrewshire Council will add to the affordable housing supply in the Foxbar area of Paisley and bring vacant sites back in to use. Property sizes still to be confirmed.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 24 PUBLIC Development Units Status Comment Broomlands & Carbrook Street, Paisley 43 Off site, Due to start on site around January 2027 Renfrewshire Council regeneration area. Plans are being progressed to deliver around 43 new Council homes in Paisley’s Broomlands and Carbrook Street area. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Thrushcraigs, Paisley 50 Off site, Due to start on site around July 2027 Renfrewshire Council regeneration area. Plans are being progressed to deliver around 50 new Council homes in the Thrushcraigs Area of Paisley. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Howwood Road, Johnstone (Site 2 of 2) 60 Off site, Due to start on site around January 2028 Renfrewshire Council regeneration area. Plans are being progressed to deliver around 60 new Council homes in this second phase of development in the Howwood Road Area of Johnstone. Property sizes still to be confirmed. West Renfrewshire Villages 62 Off site, Start date tbc Three potential sites identified for progression by Housing Association partners for approximately 62 social rented homes as part of mixed tenure developments proposed in West Renfrewshire. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Flourish Road, Erskine, Older Persons Housing Reprovisioning 18 Off site, Due to start on site around February 2027 Bridgewater Housing Association are progressing plans for a new purpose built older persons housing development of around 18 units that will replace existing scattered older persons housing provision across Erskine. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Gibson Crescent, Johnstone 28 Off site, Start date tbc Options are being explored for this social rented development of around 28 social rented homes by Williamsburgh Housing Association in Johnstone. Property sizes still to be confirmed.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 25 PUBLIC Development Units Status Comment Springbank, Paisley (Phase II) 35 Off site, Due to start on site around January 2030 Renfrewshire Council regeneration area. Plans are being progressed to deliver around 35 new Council homes in this second phase of development in the Springbank Road Area of Paisley. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Stirling Drive, Linwood 65 Off site, site start 2027 subject to future grant application being approved by SG. Options are being explored for this social rented development of around 65 homes by Linstone Housing Association that will add to the affordable housing supply in Linwood. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Ryefield, Johnstone 36 Off site, site start 2029 subject to future grant application being approved by SG. Options are being explored for this social rented development of approximately 36 homes by Linstone Housing Association in Johnstone. Property sizes still to be confirmed. MacDowall Street, Johnstone 35 Off site, Start date tbc Options are being explored to identify an affordable housing provider to develop this gap site for affordable housing. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Rannoch Road, Johnstone 30 Off site, Start date tbc Options are being explored for this social rented development of around 30 homes by Loretto Housing Association in Johnstone. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Garthland Lane, Paisley 32 Off site, Start date tbc This social rented development of around 32 homes by Renfrewshire Council will add to the affordable housing supply in central Paisley. Property sizes still to be confirmed.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 26 PUBLIC Development Units Status Comment Foxbar Rivers, Paisley 45 Off site, Start date tbc This social rented development of around 45 homes by Paisley Housing Association will add to the affordable housing supply in the Foxbar area of Paisley and bring vacant sites back in to use. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Westburn Avenue/Blackstoun Road, Ferguslie Park, Paisley 22 Off site, Start date tbc This social rented development of around 22 homes by a developer still to be identified will add to the affordable housing supply in the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley and bring a vacant site back in to use. Property sizes still to be confirmed. East Lane, Paisley (Site 2 of 2) 30 Off site, Start date tbc Site identified for longer term development. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Supported Housing, Paisley (Site tbc) 14 Off site, Start date tbc Efforts will continue to identify a potential site for supported housing in Paisley Town Centre. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Paisley Town Centre (including edge of centre locations, future sites tbi) 100 Off site, Start date tbc A number of opportunities in and around the town centre are currently being reviewed in terms of their viability and deliverability with new projects likely to be progressed over the next five-year period West Renfrewshire Villages tbc Off site, Start date tbc Efforts will continue to identify additional potential site(s) for affordable housing in West Renfrewshire to promote mixed tenure communities. North Renfrewshire Villages tbc Off site, Start date tbc Efforts will continue to identify additional potential site(s) for affordable housing in North Renfrewshire to promote mixed tenure communities.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 27 PUBLIC Development Units Status Comment Neilston Road, Paisley 8 Off site, Start date tbc. Due to complete 2026/27. Paisley Housing Association will deliver 8 units at benchmark grant rate. Property sizes still to be confirmed. Local Development Plan Affordable Housing Policy Future Requirements Subject to the availability of Scottish Government grant, this Strategic Housing Investment Plan will support the development of new affordable homes within private sector sites as part of Renfrewshire’s Affordable Housing Policy.
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 28 PUBLIC Completions between 2020 and 2025 & estimated completions 2025/26 Appendix 2 2020/21 Link/C~urb Smithhills Street, Paisley 26x 2 Bed 26 Renfrewshire Council Bishopton Phase I 10x 1 Bed, 34x 2 Bed, 34x 3 Bed, 2x 4+ Beds 80 Williamsburgh HA Milliken Road, Kilbarchan 14x 1 Bed, 4x 2 Bed 18 124 2021/22 Renfrewshire Council Johnstone Castle, Johnstone 4x 1 Bed, 67x2 Bed, 20x 3 Bed, 4x 4+ Beds 95 Link/C~urb Amochrie Road, Foxbar, Paisley 34x 2 Bed, 2x 3 Bed 36 Link/C~urb Thrushcraigs Phase II (St Ninians), Paisley 12x 2 Bed, 11x 3 Bed 23 Paisley HA Westerfield House, Paisley 16x 1 Bed 16 170 2022/23 Sanctuary/Paisley HA Glenburn, Paisley 8x 1 Bed, 73x 2 Bed, 50x 3 Bed 131 Link/C~urb Millarston, Paisley 16x 1 Bed, 62x 2 Bed, 2x 3 Bed, 19x 4+ Beds 99 Renfrewshire Council Auchengreoch Road, Johnstone 8x 1 Bed, 17x 2 Bed, 12x 3 Bed, 2x 4+ Beds 39 Loretto Bishopton Phase II 12x 1 Bed, 14x 2 Bed, 32x 3 Bed 58 Williamsburgh HA Albert Road, Renfrew 13x 2 Bed, 29x 3 Bed 42 369 2023/24 Renfrewshire Council Ferguslie Park, Paisley 22x 1 Bed, 67x 2 Bed, 10x 3 Bed, 2x 4+ Beds 101 Link/C~urb Abbey Quarter Phase 4 (AQP4), Paisley 10x 1 Bed, 71x 2 Bed 81 Link/C~urb Woodend House, Houston 14x 2 Bed 14 196 2024/25 Sanctuary Napier Street, Linwood 37x 2 Bed, 14x 3 Bed 51 Loretto East Lane, Paisley 16x 1 Bed, 28x 2 Bed 48 Link/C~urb Hawkhead, Paisley 5x 3 Bed 5 104 963 2025/2026 - Estimated Completions Link/C~urb Hawkhead, Paisley 30 x 2 Bed 30 Sanctuary Sutherland Street, Paisley 28x 2 Bed, 7x 3 Bed 35 Williamsburgh HA Cartha Crescent, Paisley 12x 2 Bed, 21x 3 Bed 33 98
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29 PUBLIC Appendix 3 £ Million Homes Total Est Grant Req (£M) Est Spend by of End March 2026 Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Core Projects (Yr 1) 2026/27 (Yr 2) 2027/28 (Yrs 3-5) 2028/29- 2030/31 (Yrs 6+) 2031/32 & Beyond Johnstone Castle Phase II* 68 £1.864 £1.864 N/A N/A N/A N/A Cartha Crescent 33 £3.233 £3.233 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 Orchard St/Causeyside St (HRA) 50 £5.003 £5.003 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 Bishopton Phase 3A 46 £5.475 £5.475 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 Bishopton Phase 4 20 £1.915 £1.915 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 Gallowhill, Paisley 65 £9.634 £4.227 £5.407 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 Howwood Road, Johnstone (Site 1 of 2) 70 £10.431 £3.106 £7.325 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 West End - Remaining Sites 120 £11.489 £6.341 £1.764 £1.764 £1.620 £0.000 Bishopton Phase 3B 16 £1.532 £0.000 £1.532 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 Bishopton Phase 5 23 £2.500 £0.000 £2.500 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 Neilston Road, Paisley 8 £0.770 £0.000 £0.770 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 Open Market Acquisitions tbc £1.575 £1.575 tbc tbc tbc tbc Affordable Housing Policy Future Reqs tbc tbc tbc tbc tbc tbc tbc *Funded without Grant from RPA 519 £55.421 £32.739 £19.298 £1.764 £1.620 £0.000
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 30 PUBLIC Homes Total Est Grant Req (£M) Est Spend by of End March 2026 Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Shadow Projects (Yr 1) 2026/27 (Yr 2) 2027/28 (Yrs 3-5) 2028/29- 2030/31 (Yrs 6+) 2031/32 & Beyond Springbank, Paisley (Phase 1 of 2) 65 £5.706 £1.194 £0.000 £0.500 £4.012 £0.000 Foxbar Rivers, Paisley 45 £3.949 £0.050 £0.000 £0.500 £3.399 £0.000 Broomlands & Carbrook Street, Paisley 43 £6.130 £0.412 £0.000 £0.000 £5.718 £0.000 Thrushcraigs, Paisley 50 £4.388 £0.119 £0.000 £0.500 £3.769 £0.000 Howwood Road, Johnstone (Site 2 of 2) 60 £5.266 £0.444 £0.000 £0.500 £4.322 £0.000 West Renfrewshire Villages (3 sites) 62 £5.936 £0.000 £0.000 £2.000 £3.936 £0.000 Older Persons Housing, Erskine 18 £2.455 £0.000 £0.455 £2.000 £0.000 £0.000 Gibson Crescent, Johnstone 28 £2.681 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £2.681 £0.000 Springbank, Paisley (Phase II) 35 £3.072 £0.351 £0.000 £0.000 £2.722 £0.000 Rannoch Road, Johnstone 30 £2.872 £0.000 £0.000 £2.000 £0.872 £0.000 Paisley Town Centre - sites tbc 100 £9.580 £0.000 £0.000 £3.000 £6.580 £0.000 Stirling Drive, Linwood 65 £10.818 £0.859 £0.000 £5.000 £4.959 £0.000 Ryefield, Johnstone 36 £5.983 £0.150 £0.000 £0.000 £5.833 £0.000 637 £68.836 £3.579 £0.455 £16.000 £48.803 £0.000
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Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026 to 2031 31 PUBLIC Homes Total Est Grant Req (£M) Est Spend by of End March 2026 Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Est Grant Req Longer Term Projects (Yr 1) 2026/27 (Yr 2) 2027/28 (Yrs 3-5) 2028/29- 2030/31 (Yrs 6+) 2031/32 & Beyond Foxbar Rivers, Paisley 45 £4.308 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £4.308 £0.000 MacDowall Street, Johnstone 35 £3.351 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £3.351 £0.000 Garthland Lane, Paisley 32 £3.033 £0.225 £0.000 £0.000 £2.808 £0.000 Westburn Avenue, Ferguslie Park, Paisley 22 £1.931 £0.143 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £1.788 East Lane, Paisley (Site 2 of 2) 30 £2.872 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £2.872 Supported Housing, Paisley (Site tbc) 14 £1.340 £0.000 £0.000 £0.000 £1.340 £0.000 West Renfrewshire Villages Opportunities tbc £tbc £tbc £tbc £tbc £tbc £tbc North Renfrewshire Villages Opportunities tbc £tbc £tbc £tbc £tbc £tbc £tbc 178 £16.835 £0.368 £0.000 £0.000 £11.807 £4.660 1334 £141.092 £36.686 £19.753 £17.764 £62.230 £4.660
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32 PUBLIC Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Renfrewshire Council Renfrewshire House Cotton Street Paisley PA1 1BR
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PUBLIC Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026-2031 Consultation Responses Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan Houston Community Council Houston Community Council feels that the Strategic Housing Investment Plan requires to take far greater cognisance of: 1. Specific demographic needs of communities when determining housing. 2. Consider needs of ageing population. 3. Make provision for private sector downsizer homes within West Renfrewshire Villages. 4. Consider measures to enable older residents in private and rented accommodation to move to smaller homes to free up larger homes by building affordable homes for them to downsize to. 5. Support reuse and refurbishment of existing stock particularly for families by supporting downsizing. 6. Agree with town centre living and brownfield development. All new developments should give greater consideration to active travel connectivity and access to local amenities. Officers from Renfrewshire Council will arrange a meeting with Houston Community Council to discuss their comments. The Community Council’s comments are welcomed however they relate more to the Local Housing Strategy or Local Development Plan process than the Strategic Housing Investment Plan, in that they are mostly planning matters. Therefore we will consider these up in future reviews of the Local Housing Strategy and Local Development Plan process.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan The Community Council believe that the Council’s support for edge of centre retail development undermines this. 7. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan requires to be driven by needs rather than securing numbers. Requires to move to a local place making agenda and cognisance of the demographics of individual communities to create ‘whole life towns and villages’. 8. Recognition to be given to the specific spatial qualities of communities with less generic volume housing design and a Places for People place led approach. 9. Significant planning applications over 50 units should be accompanied by an EIA. Paisley Housing Association 1. Role of local providers: Paisley Housing Association feel the Strategic Housing Investment Plan is weighted towards national Registered Social Landlords and Renfrewshire Council to the detriment of local Registered Social Landlords. They feel that the Strategic Housing Investment Plan should have explicitly recognise the role of local Registered Social Landlords and given a stronger role in project delivery. 1. There are a number of projects in the programme for both local and national Registered Social Landlords. The focus of development projects in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan is to meet housing needs and the priorities of the Local Housing Strategy taking into account the deliverability of projects.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2. Section 75 sites: Paisley Housing Association feel the Strategic Housing Investment Plan does not give enough detail to Section 75 sites and requires a clear approach to be set out and showing how they will be programmed and allocated. The Association want to see more explicit detail in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan. Paisley Housing Association wish the Strategic Housing Investment Plan to set out a pipeline of anticipated Section 75 sites linked to the Local Development Plan and introduce a transparent process for allocating these sites to Registered Social Landlord partners ensuring local Registered Social Landlords are prioritised. 3. Programme balance – core, shadow and longer term projects: Paisley Housing Association feels that the Strategic Housing Investment Plan is heavily weighted towards core projects that are already committed, with delivery dominated by national Registered Social Landlords and Renfrewshire Council sites and that this structure leaves little space for new local projects to feature in the early years of the programme. 2. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan refers to the opportunity provided by Section 75 agreements to deliver affordable homes on larger private sites. We note Paisley Housing Association’s comments, however Renfrewshire Council are not in the position to identify a pipeline of future Section 75 sites until they have been through the planning process. Through the planning process the Council will determine the appropriate provision of affordable housing on a site-by-site basis in accordance with the Local Development Plan. 3. The development programme is based around three time periods that reflects the anticipated availability of funding, project delivery and current status of projects. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan programme includes a degree of over-programming to ensure Renfrewshire Council can maximise grant spend wherever possible.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan Paisley Housing Association are concerned that this approach risks locking out deliverable local projects and fails to make full use of the capacity of community based providers and heightens the risk of grant underspend if core projects slip. Paisley Housing Association recommend the Strategic Housing Investment Plan introduces a formal mechanism that allows deliverable local Registered Social Landlord projects to be promoted to the core if: * Other core projects are delayed *Additional funding becomes available *A local provider can evidence readiness to process more quickly 4. Funding certainty and benchmarks: Paisley Housing Association acknowledge the single year Resource Planning Assumptions and uncertainty around this. Paisley Housing Association state that if funding is constrained in future years that the Strategic Housing Investment Plan should explicitly prioritise local providers. In relation to benchmark rates, Paisley Housing Association acknowledges that these are set by the Scottish Government. 4. Projects within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan are programmed at benchmark rates until the point when an offer of grant is issued by the Scottish Government. The Council do not decide the level of grant that will be provided to support the delivery of projects. Above benchmark rates may be provided by the Scottish Government to deliver specific quality and design features, however, it is up to the Registered Social Landlord to submit detailed costs with their application of grant to the Scottish Government and the Government will decide on the level of grant that will be provided following a value for money assessment.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan However they note that the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan states that flexibility is available for higher grant support where justified. Paisley Housing Association wants Renfrewshire Council to strengthen the Strategic Housing Investment Plan by being more transparent about how the flexibility will be applied in practice. 5. Town centre living and regeneration: Paisley Housing Association reference the line in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan for 100 affordable homes in Paisley Town Centre and that no delivery partner is noted. Paisley Housing Association wish to be considered for the delivery of these homes and feel that it should be a local provider that takes this forward. The Scottish Government require that any site that is being delivered as part of a Section 75 legal agreement on a larger private housing site must be delivered at benchmark rates. 5. In preparing the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan, all Registered Social Landlords were offered the opportunity to submit proposed sites to the Council. A number of proposals have been submitted for Paisley Town Centre. A project line is included within Appendix 3 of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan in order to support further affordable housing development in Paisley town centre. Provision is included in the programme to deliver approximately 100 new affordable homes in and around the town centre should funding be confirmed by the Scottish Government. A number of development opportunities are currently being reviewed in terms of their viability and deliverability with new projects likely to be progressed over the next five-year period.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan 6. Neilston Road, Paisley – omission from the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan: Paisley Housing Association state that they are extremely concerned that this site has been left out of the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan. They state that their site is ‘oven ready’ and aligns with the Strategic Housing Investment Plan’s priority for town centre and edge of centre regeneration. Paisley Housing Association are unhappy that they have worked with the developer and kept Renfrewshire Council updated on progress over recent months. Paisley Housing Association wish this site to be added to the Strategic Housing Investment Plan. 7. North and West Renfrewshire villages: Paisley Housing Association note that the Strategic Housing Investment Plan acknowledges unmet need in North and West Renfrewshire villages but offers little detail on how this will be addressed. They state that whilst larger Registered Social Landlords may prioritise major urban sites, smaller scale village developments are often overlooked despite clear housing need and that Paisley Housing Association are well placed to contribute to this agenda. 6. Following discussion with Paisley Housing Association regarding this site since the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan was prepared, the Council has now included the site at 123 Neilston Road, Paisley in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan programme for 8 units for an anticipated 2026/27 delivery. 7. A number of sites are identified within North Renfrewshire and social rented housing is being delivered in this area via the Strategic Housing Investment Plan. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan also includes funding to deliver future affordable housing projects in West Renfrewshire but these sites will only be identified following the outcome of the planning process, should planning permission be granted. Renfrewshire Council are continuing to look at any other opportunities in West Renfrewshire. We would also welcome any Registered Social Landlord who wish take a proactive role in enabling more affordable housing delivery in these locations.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan Paisley Housing Association state that they believe the Strategic Housing Investment Plan should set out a clear pathway for enabling local associations to play a more proactive role in delivering affordable sites in these locations. 8. Rental off the shelf (ROTS) – strategy and refurbishment funding: Paisley Housing Association acknowledge the funding for Rental Off the Shelf and National Acquisitions Fund but state the delivery is currently ad-hoc. They feel that given the volume of vacant homes in Paisley Town Centre and surrounding areas that the Strategic Housing Investment Plan should establish a clear, strategy led Rental Off the Shelf programme with priority given to local Registered Social Landlords. Paisley Housing Association state that the Rental Off the Shelf budgets must cover acquisition and also essential refurbishment costs required to properties that typically require investment before they can be relet to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and their letting standard. However we note that no opportunities were identified in the recent call for sites process that was asked of all Registered Social Landlord in Renfrewshire as part of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan consultation. No changes are required to the Strategic Housing Investment Plan to address comments. 8. Funding is currently allocated within the programme to support the delivery of Rental Off the Shelf. Should future funding allocations be made available by the Scottish Government, we will consider with all Registered Social Landlords operating within Renfrewshire whether a strategy or guiding criteria in terms of need, is required to support the delivery of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan. At present we do not intend to change the Strategic Housing Investment Plan.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan Paisley Housing Association recommend that Rental Off the Shelf is fully integrated with the Council’s empty homes and buy-back work and subject to quarterly review alongside Strategic Housing Investment Plan delivery, ensuring ready acquisitions can backfill any core project slippage and project grant spend. 9. Strategic Housing Investment Plan and monitoring: Paisley Housing Association note the monitoring arrangements in place but feel that this approach risks excluding local providers unless they already have a project in the programme. Paisley Housing Association state that to ensure the Strategic Housing Investment Plan remains flexible and inclusive that they believe that there should be a more structured role for local Registered Social Landlords in programme monitoring and pipeline development. This would allow potential new opportunities to be identified early, help safeguard grant spend if core projects slip and ensure that delivery is not concentrated in the hands of a small number of national providers. 9. Renfrewshire Council continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and Registered Social Landlords in the delivery of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan and the delivery programme. This includes quarterly tripartite meetings with developing partners, the Scottish Government and Renfrewshire Council to monitor progress and monthly updates on individual projects. In addition, there are opportunities for Housing Associations to engage at the Housing Provider Forums where the Strategic Housing Investment Plan is a standing agenda item. Council officers met with Paisley Housing Association during the consultation period of the draft Strategic Housing Investment Plan and on 08/10/25 to discuss their comments and liaison going forward. The Council welcome Paisley HA wanting to take a more prominent role in the delivery of social housing across Renfrewshire.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan Paisley Housing Association states they are committed to playing a constructive role in this process and would welcome greater involvement in programme oversight. CALA Homes CALA are progressing the site and planning application for Lochwinnoch, Burnfoot Road is currently subject to a live application 24/0892/PP. The nominated RSL is Link HA. A site start is anticipated in Summer 2026, with first private units in late summer/autumn 2027 and all the affordable homes delivered in 3 phases in early 2028. CALA purchased the site in Erskine, Sandielands Road in July 2025. There is currently a live application 22/0178/PP going through the system, targeting the November 2025 Board. CALA are actively engaging with Bridgewater HA to deliver 18 older person homes for social rent. This would allow a spring 2026 site start, with first private units around easter 2027 and the affordable delivered over two phases from autumn 2027. Provision has been included within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan programme for sites within West Renfrewshire. Should the site at Burnfoot Road be granted planning consent it will be identified within the programme. The site at Sandielands Road (Northbar Phase 2), is included within the Strategic Housing Investment Plan programme. Linstone Housing Association Linstone Housing Association request clarification on the following: • Stirling Drive: This is listed as “TBC” for proposed start date. We welcome the update from Linstone Housing Association and have amended as requested the previous timescales provided by Linstone Housing Association for the delivery of sites at Stirling Drive, Linwood and Ryefield, Johnstone. The Council have updated the Strategic Housing Investment Plan to identify anticipated site start for Stirling Drive to 2027 subject to a future application of grant being approved by the Scottish Government.
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PUBLIC Respondent Summary of representation Renfrewshire Council Response/Changes required to Strategic Housing Investment Plan We are actively in the process of acquiring the additional land from Renfrewshire Council this financial year, with a view to commencing on site in 2027 pending some final clarifications. Can you clarify why this date has been omitted? • Ryefield: We expect to commence on site in 2029 as per previous update, yet the draft shows “TBC.” • Station Road: The project has been removed entirely from the draft. Please note that Springfield submitted a planning pre application enquiry, and the project remains very much on the agenda for the SHIP period. The Council have updated the SHIP to an anticipated site start for Ryefield to 2029 subject to a future application of grant being approved by the Scottish Government. The Station Road site is not currently within Strategic Housing Investment Plan programme, however this will be revised should planning permission be obtained for the site. Council officers met Linstone Housing Association on 16/10/25 to discuss their comments and updated timescales for their projects.