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Strategic Housing Investment Plan (Ship) 2026-27 - 2030-31

Argyll and Bute Council · 26 November 2025
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL                  COUNCIL 
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 26 NOVEMBER 2025 
STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN (SHIP) 2026/27 - 2030/31 
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 This report details the proposed annual Strategic Housing Investment Plan
which will cover the period 2026/27 - 2030/31 and summarises the proposals for
the revised SHIP, in line with statutory requirements and the latest guidance. 
1.2 The SHIP document required to be submitted to the Scottish Government on
31st October 2025. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan, attached at
Appendix 1, was submitted to meet the deadline, subject to ratification by
the Council on 26th November 2025. 
1.3 The Scottish Government have not yet agreed the Resource Planning Allocation
(RPA) for future years of the SHIP programme. To address this the Council has
agreed to an assumed RPA for the years 2026/27 to 2028/29 of
80%/60%/40%* of current year RPA levels based on programme
management advice from the Scottish Government. It is important to note that
the figures for 2026/27 to 2028/2029 are not a formal definitive allocation, and
no indication has been provided for later years on the allocations from previous
years although they are not formal definitive allocations: 
Year 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2030/31 Total
RPA £18.505** £14.804* £11.103* £7.402* TBC TBC £51.814
Source: Scottish Government Letter to Councils – AHSP RPA 2025/26, October 2025
**includes 0.241M uplift towards open market acquisitions 
1.4 In 2024/25, the SHIP delivered 54 new affordable homes. In addition, 19
properties were bought from the open market by RSL’s to be brought in the
affordable housing stock. This SHIP identifies potential for 52 units to be
delivered in 2025/26 with additional properties already identified through the
buyback scheme. The SHIP identifies over 1,000 additional homes to be
completed or approved in subsequent years. 
1.5 As well as addressing unmet local need and contributing to national targets, the
proposed programme will:

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• generate additional investment in the local economy, support additional
jobs including new apprenticeships in the construction sector and
associated labour market.
• stimulate community regeneration and sustainability.
• help to attract and retain residents and employees for local businesses.
• encourage movement within, and more effective operation of, the local
housing system.
• contribute to improving general health and well-being.
• generate additional Council tax revenue. 
RECOMMENDATION 
It is recommended that the Council: 
Approve the SHIP 2026/27 – 2030/31 which will then be submitted to the
Scottish Government as the Council’s approved SHIP document.

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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL          COUNCIL 
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH                        26 NOVEMBER 2025 
STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN (SHIP) 2026/27 - 2030/31 
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 The core purpose of the SHIP is to set out strategic investment priorities for
affordable housing over a five year period to achieve the outcomes set out in the
Local Housing Strategy. 
2.2 The SHIP document required to be submitted to the Scottish Government on
31st October 2025. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan, attached at
Appendix 1, was submitted to meet the deadline, subject to ratification by
the Council on 26th November 2025.
2.3 The SHIP remains a continuous, iterative process: individual projects are subject
to a variety of factors which can lead to slippage or revision; and the overall
programme requires constant monitoring. Formal updates are now required on
an annual basis. 
2.4 The revised SHIP has potential for delivery of 52 units in 2025/26, and over
1000 new affordable homes in subsequent years. 
3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 
3.1 It is recommended that the Council:
Approve the SHIP 2026/27 – 2030/31 which will then be submitted to the
Scottish Government as the Council’s approved SHIP document. 
4.0 DETAIL 
4.1 From 2017, the Scottish Government, COSLA and Association of Local
Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) agreed that SHIPs would revert
to being submitted on an annual basis. In June 2025 revised guidance was
issued to assist local authorities prepare their SHIPs, with a requirement to
submit to Scottish Government by 31st October 2025. The SHIP was
submitted to meet the deadline, subject to ratification by the Council on 26th

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November 2025. 
4.2 The Local Housing Strategy (LHS) sets out the strategic policy approach of
the council and its partners to delivering high quality housing and related
services across all tenures to meet identified need in the area. SHIPs are
directly informed by the LHS and its policies and are developed in
consultation with key stakeholders. Therefore, the SHIP is operational in
nature and not considered as a policy document. 
4.3 The core purpose of the SHIP remains to set out strategic investment
priorities for affordable housing over a five year period to achieve the
outcomes contained in the LHS. The plan reinforces the council as the
strategic housing authority; the importance of the outcomes and targets set
out in the LHS; and informs Scottish Government investment decisions. 
4.4 The SHIP should therefore:
• Set out investment priorities for affordable housing.
• Demonstrate how these will be delivered.
• Identify the resources required to deliver these priorities.
• Enable the involvement of key partners.
The SHIP should contain a succinct narrative in PDF form, submitted as a
supporting document to the SHIP in the Housing and Regeneration
Programme (HARP) system, which explains the context to the SHIP including:
➢ A statement on alignment with the LHS demonstrating that priorities
identified in the SHIP are consistent with what the local authority
outlined in its LHS (and any subsequent updates) and how the SHIP
priorities will contribute to delivery of LHS Outcomes.
➢ A summary of the methodology used to prioritise projects.
➢ Details of how the local authority has responded to and resolved
development constraints on projects prior to the site start date.
➢ Details on how the local authority’s own resources and other funding
are supporting the delivery of affordable housing in its area.
➢ Details of progress towards the delivery of its Affordable Housing
Supply Programme across all tenures by completions.
➢ Details of affordable housing projects for Gypsy/Travellers.
➢ Details of Housing Infrastructure Fund projects where these are linked
to affordable housing delivery.
➢ Details of local plans to support the delivery of wheelchair accessible
housing within its area.
➢ A statement that strategic housing priorities are aligned and are
consistent with Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan priorities.
➢ Details of affordable housing projects that are aligned with the local
authority’s Child Poverty Action Report.

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➢ Details that duties under the Islands (Scotland) Act have been followed
by the local authority if appropriate.
➢ Details of any empty homes services and actions to bring homes back
into use.
➢ Details of how Council Tax on Second and Empty Homes has been
used to assist affordable housing.
➢ Details of how Developer Contributions have been used to assist
affordable housing.
➢ The type and level of consultation undertaken with RSLs, communities,
developers and other stakeholders in developing the SHIP and how
this has helped with the development of strategic investment priorities. 
4.5 Key Aspects of the SHIP Guidance Issued in June 2025 
The Guidance states that housing links to and underpins all 4 of the Scottish
Government’s priorities: to eradicate child poverty; to grow Scotland’s
economy; to tackle the climate emergency by investment in green energy and
infrastructure; and to improve Scotland’s public services as an investment in
Scotland’s future health, equality and prosperity. 
Building on previous guidance, the Scottish Government’s most recent
guidance includes an emphasis on ensuring that any specific requirements for
key worker housing and the actions that the Council and its RSL partners will
take forward over the period of the SHIP.
The guidance also requires details on how the SHIP supports and enables the
work of the Empty Homes Officer in Argyll and Bute to explore the possibilities
of acquiring privately owned long-term empty homes. 
The guidance requires a section in the SHIP on how the local authority is
addressing the Housing Emergency declared in Argyll and Bute in June 2023. 
The latest guidance also includes reference to the fact that any capital works to
the official Gypsy Traveller sites in Argyll should be included in the document.
The Scottish Government has now confirmed that Capital Projects in relation to
the sites can now be included in the SHIP tables. 
In addition, the 2025 Guidance has a focus on exploring the possibilities of
procurement of offsite construction to assist with the delivery of affordable
housing. 
4.6 Resource Planning Assumptions (RPAs) 
The Scottish Government have not yet agreed the Resource Planning Allocation

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(RPA) for future years of the SHIP programme. To address this the Council has
agreed to an assumed RPA for the years 2026/27 to 2028/29 of
80%/60%/40%* of current year RPA levels based on programme
management advice from the Scottish Government. It is important to note that
the figures for 2026/27 to 2028/2029 are not a formal definitive allocation, and
no indication has been provided for later years on the allocations from previous
years although they are not formal definitive allocations: 
Year 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28 2028/29 2029/30 2030/31 Total
RPA £18.505** £14.804* £11.103* £7.402* TBC TBC £51.814
Source: Scottish Government Letter to Councils – AHSP RPA 2025/26, October 2025
**includes 0.241M uplift towards open market acquisitions 
It should be noted that this is potential investment for Argyll and Bute,
dependent on actual need and deliverability of suitable projects. While obviously
very welcome, this level of funding will also present real challenges for the
Council and its partners. This would be subject to sufficient complementary
funding being available from the Council and RSLs themselves to support the
programme; and the capacity of the constrained local construction industry to
gear up to such an enhanced level of productivity. Officers will continue to
explore with Scottish Government and through COSLA, areas of flexibility in
uses of the RPA which will help us to maximise its utilisation. 
4.7 Additional funding is required to complement the Scottish Government
investment, and in Argyll and Bute this includes a contribution from the Council’s
Strategic Housing Fund (SHF) as well as Housing Association investment drawn
from private sector borrowing. The council’s SHF is primarily based on the
revenue raised from reduced tax discounts on holiday and second homes. The
SHIP sets out plans to fully utilise the SHF over 5 years to support the
affordable housing development programme, including empty homes grants
and loans. The projected income to the SHF over the next 3 years is
approximately £2m per annum. 
4.8 Consultation and Collaboration 
The preparation of the SHIP is intended to be viewed as a corporate activity
with close working relationships fostered across housing, planning, economic
development and other internal services. It is also crucial that the SHIP
process is based on collaboration between the Council, RSLs, communities,
developers, the Scottish Government and other stakeholders such as the
Health and Social Care Partnership; and that the SHIP document should
provide a detailed narrative about how consultation and collaboration has
been undertaken with all stakeholders. In Argyll and Bute, while the Council
remains the strategic authority with overall responsibility for the plan, local
RSLs and developers are engaged formally and informally throughout the
process and do lead on delivering most of the individual projects. Regular

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review meetings are held with SHIP officers from the Council, RSLs, and the
Scottish Government, and all proposals and decisions are considered by the
overarching, multi-agency Strategic Housing Forum. Updates are also being
tabled at local area community planning groups; and at the level of specific
projects, sites and settlements, a range of community representatives and
individual residents are routinely engaged and consulted. In recent years, a
number of local community councils and development trusts have pro-actively
engaged in the SHIP process, undertaking localised Housing Need and
Demand Assessments (HNDAs), with Council support, to feed into the
process and contributing to discussions on the project proposals. Additional
engagement has been promoted across the local business sector. 
4.9 A primary focus for the new SHIP has been continued engagement with the
Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to ensure adequate specialist
provision is included in the new build programme. The HSCP’s new 3 year
strategic plan was launched in 2025 and incorporates a Housing Contribution
Statement (HCS) outlining the essential role housing plays in supporting and
maintaining independence, health and well-being of residents. The current
LHS consolidates the partnership working with the HSCP and sets out a high-
level outcome which is: 
“To enable people with particular needs to live independently in their
own homes and to remain in their communities”
The Housing Occupational Therapist has been in place since 2018 and
continues to play a key role in enabling the delivery of the right houses in the
right location through the SHIP. 
4.10 Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) 
The Scottish Government introduced a Housing Infrastructure Fund in 2016 to
support housing development through dedicated loans and grants. The HIF
will prioritise sites which are of strategic importance and cannot proceed or
have stalled due to exceptional infrastructure works. The Council secured a
£2.1 million HIF grant to address the costs of upgrade works at Kirk
Road/Lorn Road. This work is now complete and has enabled delivery of the
300 unit affordable housing development at Dunbeg, which remains a high
strategic priority for the Council and its partners. The SHIP annual update
contains proposals for further HIF projects in Argyll. 
4.11 Other Affordable Housing Provided Without Affordable Housing Supply
Programme (AHSP) Assistance 
SHIPs should contain details of all proposed affordable housing projects
within the local authority area including those which will be provided without
AHSP support. This could include off the shelf purchases, buybacks of ex-

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council/RSL stock, projects where councils have exclusively used their own
resources, pension funds or other sources of funding, including Scottish
Government non-AHSP funds to develop housing. 
The Council will continue to explore these and all other appropriate options to
increase the supply of affordable housing. The Council agreed an Open
Market Purchase Statement with the Scottish Government in January 2022. In
June 2023 the Council launched a buy back initiative in partnership with the
local RSLs. 
The Community Housing Network Group continues to meet on a quarterly
basis in order to support community groups to take forward housing projects
which meet identified need. The Council agreed a feasibility fund for
Community Groups in February 2025. There have been 7 applications to the
fund from Community Groups across Argyll and Bute since it opened. 
The potential impact of the Rural Growth Deal (RGD) for Argyll and Bute will
be significant, and the SHIP and the housing sector in general can contribute
to this strategic agenda. 
4.12 Current Progress: Outputs 2024/2025
Table 1 details the affordable housing delivered by the SHIP in 2024/25. 
TABLE 1: SHIP New Build Homes by HMA & Project, 2024/25 
Project address Developer Units
Jeanie Deans, Helensburgh Dunbritton HA 12
Baddens Lochgilphead Fyne Homes 6
Wilkie Houses, Rothesay Fyne Homes 8
Acquistion - Strachur Trust HA 1 
Imeraval Phase 4
West Highland
HA  20 
Port Appin
West Highland
HA  6 
Acquisition - Kilmelford
West Highland
HA  1
Argyll & Bute 2024/25 Total Completions 54 
4.13 The Revised SHIP Programme
The current year, 2025/26, is covered by a Strategic Local Programme
Agreement while the new SHIP is intended to commence from 2026/27. The
following tables summarise all proposals at the time of writing, including those
projects which were completed in the first quarters of this year and for which
funding has already been drawn down. It should be noted that the status of
many future projects, particularly in the later years, remains provisional and

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purely indicative at this stage; some may not proceed within the timescale.
However there is also scope for additional proposals to be brought forward or
included in earlier years. 
TABLE 2: SHIP Projects Completions/Anticipated Completions in 2025/26 
Project address  Developer  Units
Anticipated
/Completion
Date
Port Charlotte Phase 5, Islay West Highland
HA 16 Aug 25
Imeraval Phase 5, Islay West Highland
HA 20 Dec 2025
Manse Gardens, Strachur Trust HA 16 March 2026
Argyll & Bute 2025/26 Total Completions (est.) 52 March 2026 
TABLE 3: SHIP Core Programme - Potential Completions by March 2031 
Anticipated
Completion Developer/RSL Project Address Units
Year 1 (26/27) ACHA Blair Gardens 8
Year 1 (26/27) ACHA Tarbert Police Station 1 
Year 1 (26/27)  ACHA
Dunchologan Gypsy
Traveller Site  7
Year 1 (26/27) ACHA
Bay View Gypsy
Traveller Site 4
Year 1 (26/27) Fyne Homes Ltd Ballochgoy 8
Year 1 (26/27) Fyne Homes Ltd Inveraray Phase 1 16
Year 1 (26/27) Fyne Homes Ltd Baddens Phase 10 14
Year 1 (26/27) WHHA Colonsay 5 
Year 1 (26/27) WHHA Dalmally Police
Station 1
Year 1 (26/27) WHHA Mull -Shillinghill Ph 3 10
Year 1 (26/27) WHHA Port Appin Ph 2 6
Year 2 (27/28) ACHA Dalintober 37
Year 2 (27/28) ACHA Bowmore Phase 4 17 
Year 2 (27/28)  ACHA
Tighcargaman Phase
1, Port Ellen  18
Year 2 (27/28) ACHA Tayvallich 4
Year 2 (27/28) ACHA Glen Machrie Phase 1 14 
Year 2 (27/28) Dunbritton HA Ltd Grant Street,
Helensburgh 15

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Year 2 (27/28) Dunbritton HA Ltd Cardross 30 
Year 2 (27/28) 
Dunbritton HA Ltd
18th Tee,
Helensburgh Golf
Club 
16
Year 2 (27/28) Fyne Homes Ltd Rothesay Academy 30
Year 2 (27/28) LINK Group Ltd Luss Main Road 8
Year 2 (27/28) WHHA Dalmally Ph 1 8 
Year 2 (27/28) WHHA Oban - Campbell
Street 4
Year 3 (28/29) ACHA
Alexander Street,
Dunoon Phase 1 35
Year 3 (28/29) ACHA Inveraray 20
Year 3 (28/29) ACHA Isle of Coll 10
Year 3 (28/29) ACHA East Clyde Street 14 
Year 3 (28/29) Fyne Homes Ltd Dunloskin Farm,
Dunoon 20 
Year 3 (28/29) Fyne Homes Ltd Lochgilphead Phase
6A 20
Year 3 (28/29) Fyne Homes Ltd Inveraray Phase 2 10
Year 3 (28/29) WHHA Tobermory Site 2 12
Year 3 (28/29) WHHA Port Charlotte Ph 2 17
Year 4 (29/30) ACHA Glen Machrie Phase 2 12 
Year 4 (29/30)  ACHA
Tighcargaman Phase
2 23
Year 4 (29/30) ACHA Tarbert Phase 1 20
Year 4 (29/30) ACHA Keills 4 
Year 4 (29/30) Dunbritton HA Ltd Helensburgh Golf
Club 45
Year 4 (29/30) Fyne Homes Ltd Rothesay Academy
Phase 2 35
Year 4 (29/30) WHHA Lochawe Phase Ph 1 16
Year 4 (29/30) WHHA Ganavan Ph 1 25 
Year 5 (30/31)  ACHA
Alexander Street,
Dunoon Phase 2  35
Year 5 (30/31) ACHA Whitegates 30 
Year 5 (30/31)  ACHA
Dolphin Hall/Pilot
Street  16
Year 5 (30/31) ACHA Inveraray Phase 2 30 
Year 5 (30/31)  ACHA
Witchburn Road,
Campbeltown  14
Year 5 (30/31) ACHA Ulva and Dervaig 5
Year 5 (30/31) Dunbritton HA Ltd Succoth Ph2, Arrochar 12
Year 5 (30/31) Fyne Homes Ltd Tighnabruaich Ph2 10
Year 5 (30/31) Fyne Homes Ltd Cairndow Phase 2 4

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Year 5 (30/31) LINK Group Ltd Rosneath 49
Year 5 (30/31) LINK Group Ltd Dunbeg 4 269
Year 5 (30/31) WHHA Salen, Isle of Mull 8
Year 5 (30/31) WHHA Dalmally Ph 2 8
Year 5 (30/31) WHHA Bunessan Ph 2 6   
1115 
NB. Timescales are indicative and subject to change; and will be monitored on a
regular basis. Some projects could also revise their final number of units. 
4.14 Alternative sites are also being considered either to replace or enhance some
of the sites listed in above tables. The Council also continues to provide
support for communities considering the use of the Government’s Rural and
Island Housing Funds and other resources to deliver affordable housing out
with the core AHSP development programme. The table below provides
details of these projects.  
4.15 Community Led Housing 
Additionally, a number of community-led projects with associated affordable
requirements, may be delivered out with the core SHIP programme and
should deliver synergies with the SHIP. Several community projects are
progressing. While small in scale these community-based projects deliver
substantial impacts at the local level and help to ensure the viability and
sustainability of fragile communities. Support for community groups including
sharing good practice is facilitated via the Community Housing Network. The
following list shows the extent of the work being undertaken by our
Community Housing Network partners on rural and island projects out with the
core SHIP programme.
Colonsay Community Development Company – 9 units plus 3 self-build
plots at Scalasaig. Now complete and handed over for occupation. Argyll and
Bute Council have confirmed Strategic Housing Fund contribution towards the
three self-build plots. 
Luing Community Trust - detailed housing proposals for up to 12 units
prepared and to be submitted in Local Place Plan. Expression of Interest to
the Rural and Islands Housing Fund for potential new build housing.
Community Council engaging with second-home owners encouraging them to
sell or rent their properties – one home already transferred to rental market for
worker accommodation.
Mull and Iona Community Trust - house at Dervaig purchased with rural
housing burden for key worker on the island. Supporting the Council in the
provision of 12 units for worker accommodation in Tobermory. Looking to

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purchase land at Fishnish for 6 new build affordable houses. Council
supporting this through feasibility funding. 
South-West Mull and Iona Development - working with WHHA towards
demonstrating feasibility for 6 units at Bunessan. 
Hebridean Trust, Tiree – accessed Council funding to support bringing six
properties back into use. 
Iona Community - discussions are underway with local partners to agree a
way forward for development of 12 units within the MacLeod Building, which
may involve MICT taking a more pro-active role in the process. A Strategic
Housing Fund feasibility application has been approved to assist with the
delivery of this project. 
Tiree Community Development Trust - developing plans for an affordable
housing development at Scarinish (12-16 houses). This project has Rural and
Islands Fund Feasibility Funding in place. The Trust secured funding and
completed the land purchase at the end of March. A Strategic Housing Fund
feasibility application has been approved to assist with the delivery of this
housing project. 
Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust - five affordable units have been completed at
Ardminish and allocation and occupation is progressing.
Coll Community Housing Group have engaged with the Council Housing
Service regarding the provision of affordable housing. Land has been offered
for this purpose. The Council has approved Strategic Housing Fund to enable
the works to be carried out on the 2 NHS owned properties on Coll. The
Project Trust have now put their properties on Coll on the market – 3 lots with
a total asking price of £1.6 million. The Council have made contact to note an
interest. 
Dalavich Improvement Group - with support from Housing Services, the
Community Housing Assessment Toolkit was used to establish housing need.
This has led to a community acquisition from the open market, with support
from the Council and RIHF
.
Isle of Lismore Community Trust - planning has been approved for 2
affordable housing units at Achnacroish – the Trust are in discussion with
modular house providers as that is the preferred delivery option of the Trust. A
Strategic Housing Fund feasibility application has been approved to assist
with the delivery of this housing project. 
Tayvallich Initiative - discussions are ongoing with Planning and ACHA
about housing sites in the Tayvallich area. Tayvallich Initiative are now

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Registered Private Landlords and have let 2 properties to date. Communities
Housing Trust are also in discussion with the Council over the possibility of
Strategic Housing Fund feasibility funding in relation to the Tayvallich Initiative
owned land. A Strategic Housing Fund feasibility application has been
approved to assist with the delivery of this housing project. 
Community groups typically do not have the resources (financial or staff) to
implement large housing projects, however the wide spread and number of
groups involved can accumulate to a significant contribution to housing needs
in Argyll and Bute. The groups in the list above have aims which are
aspirational and subject to change but, currently, are aiming to deliver a total
of 105 affordable housing units. 
4.16 Impact Assessments 
In preparing the SHIP, as in all aspects of housing policy and planning, the
Council has taken account of the housing needs of all the communities we
serve, and continues to address equalities issues and adhere to principles of
diversity and inclusion. In addition to the robust baseline evidence of specialist
accommodation and support needs across the range of equalities client
groups contained in the HNDA, the Council is proactively pursuing
engagement with the Health and Social Care Partnership to inform the SHIP
programme. An overarching equality impact assessment will be completed for
the LHS and this will inform our assessment of the impact of the SHIP, and
how the strategic aims are embodied in the housing priorities of the
programme. Housing Services will also consider requirements for Health
Inequalities Impact Assessments, Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact
Assessments or other potential policy implications. However, as the
responsible authority for the purposes of the relevant 2005 Act, the Council
has determined that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is not
required for the LHS or SHIP. 
5.0 CONCLUSION
5.1 The Scottish Government will review the SHIP submitted by the Council in line
with the process agreed jointly with COSLA. Their appraisal will therefore take
account of the following: 
• the extent to which the SHIP delivers LHS Outcomes;
• the extent to which it is feasible to deliver;
• the local authority’s contribution to the delivery of the programme, both in
terms of its facilitation role and in terms of maximisation of resources;
• evidence that the Council is supporting the efficient delivery of the SHIP;
• evidence of stakeholders’ involvement in developing the SHIP and in the
implementation of proposals; and

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• the extent to which it takes account of equality issues.
6.0 IMPLICATIONS 
6.1 Policy - Proposals are consistent with current Council policy, including the
revised policy in respect of the use of Strategic Housing Fund monies. The
SHIP supports the Local Housing Strategy vision and outcomes which are
directly aligned with the overarching objectives of the Outcome Improvement
Plan. 
6.2 Financial - The proposals are based on the Resource Planning Assumptions
provided by the Scottish Government; the Strategic Housing Fund and RSL
private finance. There will be an ongoing requirement to retain and target SHF
resources to support the proposed programme. 
6.3 Legal - The submission of the SHIP will meet our statutory duties, and
following its approval, Strategic Local Programme Agreements will be
concluded between the Council and Scottish Government. 
6.4 HR – None. 
6.5 Customer Service - None 
6.6 Risk – there is a risk of depopulation, damage to the economy and a risk to
delivering essential services in the local authority area if partners cannot
effectively fund and deliver affordable housing to meet need and demand. 
6.7 Climate Change – new housing in the right location helps reduce carbon
outputs when delivered using renewable energy and other measures. Making
best use of existing stock by delivering energy efficiency measures helps
towards achieving climate change targets.
6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty – the delivery of housing opportunities across Argyll and
Bute facilitates socio-economic opportunities for all.
6.9 Equalities – protected characteristics – the activity outlined in the report is
consistent with the aims and objectives set out in the Local Housing Strategy
which is subject to an EQIA. 
6.10 Consumer Duty – the report details housing activity which will deliver essential
affordable housing and will enable essential services to be delivered within the local
authority.

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6.11 Island Communities – the housing need and demand assessment
process takes full account of housing need on the islands. New build
developments on the islands are included in each of the SHIP
tables. 
6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – the delivery of affordable
housing in areas of identified need and demand will provide
children with suitable accommodation. 
Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with Responsibility for Development and
Economic Growth 
Councillor Jim Lynch, Council Leader and Policy Lead for Housing 
November 2025
For further information contact:
Fergus Murray, Head of Development and
Economic Growth fergus.murray@argyll-
bute.gov.uk
Matt Mulderrig, Development Policy and Housing
Manager Matt.mulderrig@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Douglas Whyte, Team Lead –
Housing Strategy
douglas.whyte@argyll-bute.gov.uk 
Appendix A – Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2026/27 to 2030/31