Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 May 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 7 May 2025 and its agenda
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Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Mid Argyll, Kintyre & Islay Area Community Planning Group 7th May 2025 Argyll Community Housing Association – Annual Update 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide the Mid Argyll, Kintyre & Islay Area Community Planning Group (CPG) with Argyll Community Housing Associations (ACHA) Annual Update. 2. Recommendations 2.1 The Area CPG are asked to note the content of this report. 3. Background 3.1 ACHA have given a commitment to provide an annual update on the work being undertaken by the Association. 4. Detail 4.1 Stock ACHA have a total of 5195 properties. For the Mid Argyll, Kintyre & Islay (MAKI) Area this is broken down as follows: • Mid Argyll –627 • Kintyre –801 • Islay –380 We also have 8 allotments in Campbeltown and a total of 72 garage sites available for let (48 in Kintyre and 24 in Mid Argyll). ACHA also have a Travelling Persons Site at Duncholgan, Lochgilphead which has 7 pitches available to let to the Gypsy Traveller Community. 4.2 Regeneration Programme 4.2.1 Dalintober • Demolition approved in December 2023 subject to detailed planning approval and tender acceptance. • Design team meetings progressing and cost plan prepared. • Now 36 units (previously 20) mixed tenure and previous residents have right to return.
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• Design to detailed planning has progressed on receipt of ABC flood risk advice and roads input. • Further flood risk assessment now instructed prior to detailed planning submission. • 2025 site start subject to planning and funding approval. 4.2.2 Bowmore Islay Phase 4 • 17 units for social rent • Planning submitted October 2022 • Planning approved December 2024 • Established start date tbc – contractor procurement to follow satisfactory negotiation of legal agreement for acquisition 4.2.3 Tighcargaman Port Ellen Islay • Acquired 23/24 with Scottish Government grant • Design team procurement commenced for phase 1 detail and masterplan design. • Estimated start date 2026 4.2.4 Glenmachrie Islay • Acquired 23/24 with Scottish Government acquisition grant • Previously consented for 5 private plots • Architect capacity study now shows more units achievable. • Employers agent procurement progressing to facilitate contractor selection • Estimated start date 2026. 4.2.5 Tayvallich • ACHA has the opportunity to acquire a site for 2 units form MacLeod Construction Ltd between Carsaig and Tayvallich. • The Association has noted its interest in the site and asked MacLeods to review their existing design for the site to take cognisance of current affordable housing standards. 4.2.6 Pier View Tiree • ACHA has the opportunity to acquire a site for 10 units from MacLeod Construction Ltd on Tiree • Current voids on the Island appear to contradict the view of urgent local demand. • ACHA needs to obtain further comfort on housing need before committing further to the project. • Timing of the community’s own development ambitions is key to avoid over supply • Discussions ongoing with the Tiree Development Trust. 4.2.7 Tarbert • Potential acquisition opportunity. • Housing Allocation Area in Local Plan
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• Site investigation shows significant deep peat which is now being assessed by consulting engineers to form a remediation strategy. • Estimated start date TBC – dependant on Nature Scotlands approach to the peat and agreement of value with FLS. 4.2.8 Tarbert Police Station • Property acquired 2024 with Scottish Government grant support • Architect, Engineer and QS appointment for refurbishment opportunity including pitched roof to form a 2 be bungalow. • Adjacent police house is being renovated by ACHA’s property management team. 4.3 Achievements Since April 2024 4.3.1 49 ASB cases closed, 17 of these within Mid Argyll and Kintyre. 4.3.2 Over 6500 repairs completed in MAKI area as at end of January 2025. 4.3.3 155 new tenancies created in MAKI area 4.3.4 Estate Walkabouts carried out on each of our estates 4.3.5 Welfare rights – Gains of over £1million for Mid Argyll and Kintyre plus additional gains for Islay. 4.3.6 112 Adaptations carried out to our properties 4.3.7 Energy efficiency – 101 solar photovoltaic panels installed up to 50% saving on energy costs, Loft insulation fitted in 15 properties and 15 ASHP systems installed. 4.4 Working with our Communities 4.4.1 Community Action Fund – 27 registered charities have received an award of up £500. 10 of these groups were based in MAKI area. 4.4.2 ACHA School Award Scheme – 13 schools have received an award of up to £10000. 5 of these are in the MAKI area – Bowmore, Clachan, Kilmartin, and Rhunahaorne Primary schools and Tarbert Academy. 4.4.3 Challenge Poverty Week – ACHA teams supported local food banks including Kintyre foodbank in Campbeltown. 4.4.4 Campbeltown Allotments – Our allotments at New Parliament Place continue to be a success with lots of produce being grown. In 2024 pupils from Dalintober primary school grew red apples which they crushed and turned into apple juice. 4.5 Duncholgan Travelling Persons Site 4.5.1 ACHA worked in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council to carry out major improvements to the road to Duncholgan during 2024, which has
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improved the lives of our gypsy traveller tenants living there. Also as part of our involvement in the Argyll and Bute Gypsy Traveller working group, partners had an action plan to improve the path from Duncholgan into Lochgilphead which was unpassable. As part of their wider investment in Argyll and Bute SSEN in conjunction with their contractors Balfour Beattie undertook improvement works to the footpath. 4.5.2 ACHA want to carry out major improvements to our gypsy traveller sites and our Chief Executive has been lobbying the Scottish Government to provide ACHA, who are the only RSL in Scotland to have responsibility for gypsy traveller sites with funding to carry out the required improvements. Our liaison with the Scottish Government in this matter is looking very positive but funding is not available until 26/27. 4.6 Sheltered Housing 4.6.1 ACHA is currently reviewing its Sheltered Housing Service. The review is being carried out in 3 phases. We have completed phases 1 and 2 and are now on phase 3. We are carrying out a comprehensive consultation with our tenants and staff who are affected. Caledonia Court in Ardrishaig is included in phase 3 of the review. 4.7 Allocations & Reletting of Properties 4.7.1 ACHA are part of the HOME Argyll partnership (Housing Options Made Easy), along with Argyll & Bute Council, West Highland Housing Association, Fyne Homes and Dunbritton Housing Association. We currently have just over 3300 applicants on our house waiting lists. 4.8 Exemplar Estates 4.8.1 ACHA has committed up to £300,000 per year through our Exemplar Estates initiative to improve the environment in and around our properties. Works carried out in 2024 include:- • Fencing at Oakhill, Tarbert. • Improvements to Binstores at Meadowburn Place, Campbeltown • Fencing at Port Charlotte Islay. 4.9 Customer Involvement Strategy 4.9.1 ACHA worked with our tenant scrutiny group “Your Voice” to develop our customer involvement strategy 2024-2029. We consulted our tenants and factored owners on the draft strategy and used their feedback to produce the final strategy which went live in 2024 and can be found on our website.
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4.10 ACHA is Changing – an update on our Plans 4.10.1 New Vision, Mission and Values 4.10.2 New Corporate Plan 4.10.3 New Target Operating Model 4.10.4 Values Pilot 4.10.5 New Job roles 4.10.6 New staffing structure 4.11 Performance Benchmarking • Overall Satisfaction – ACHA 92.03% Scottish Average 86.49% • Complaints – ACHA 2.18 per 100 homes Scottish Average 6.59 per 100 homes • Quality of Home – ACHA 89.84% Scottish Average 84.01% • Value for Money – ACHA 90.84% Scottish Average 81.59% • Anti Social Behaviour – ACHA 2.74 per 100 homes Scottish Average 7.51 per 100 homes • Gross rent arrears – ACHA 2.8% Scottish Average 4.43% 5. Conclusions 5.1 ACHA is continuing to meet its targets and priorities within local strategies. 6. SOA Outcomes 6.1 Reference to Outcomes 5 – People Live Active, Healthier and Independent Lives Name of Lead Officer Sarah Campbell , Local Manager, Argyll Community Housing Association For further information please contact: Sarah Campbell, Local Manager, Argyll Community Housing Association Tel 01546605881 Email sarah.campbell@acha.co.uk
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