The plans aim to furnish first time buyers and tenants a better deal and Sturgeon said that there was a need to develop a 'fresh approach' to verify an adequate give of affordable housing across all tenures. A discussion document 'Firm Foundations - The Future of Housing in Scotland' was published today giving details of the Scottish Government's proposals. The paper recognises the central role that domiciliate ownership plays in the housing system – and in society – by offering back up for more populate to buy their homes but also accounts for the need for a thriving social sector that can adapt to changing bespeak and furnish more choice to those who cannot afford to or do not wish to buy. Communities councils social landlords developers tenants and lenders are being invited to comment on the proposals which challenge Scotland's local authorities developers and builders to increase the rate of new housing give in Scotland to at least 35,000 a year by the middle of the next decade. Sturgeon also confirmed that the Government ordain proceed with the introduction of the hit survey plot for accommodate sales from late 2008. She said: “The current rate of new house building - 25,000 new houses a year – is simply inadequate. It can and must change magnitude if Scotland's housing requirements are to be met. “I therefore propose to set a national goal to increase the rate of new housing supply to 35,000 a year by the lay of the next decade. This is necessary if we are to reverse declining affordability and I accept it is achievable.”On the back of recent investigate which shows that as home ownership is the ambition of most people in Scotland. Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government is determined to back up people acquire that goal. She said: “To do so we ordain establish a Low-cost Initiative for First Time buyers – LIFT for short. Through LIFT we aim to expand assistance for first-time buyers through a mix of Government grants shared equity schemes and mortgage related products and services. “I can also confirm that we will act send the Single Survey which will typically save first time buyers at least £200-£300 and ensure that all buyers have good information on the quality of a house before they place a bid for it.”Mary Scanlon the Conservative’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s statement was well intended but her prescription missed the mark.“The be debt of councils in Scotland is over £9 billion. £2 billion of which is council housing debt. Given the new role for local government to create and manage more homes how will the Scottish Government verify that the debt will not continue to increase and that council tax payers in Scotland ordain not have to pay their share of change surface higher debt charges in future? “Why did the SNP campaign against Council accommodate have Transfer in the Highlands – in the knowledge that £153 million of housing debt would be written and more investment in homes as a result – when we now have a situation where Highland Council have sought exemption for 4250 homes which will not meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard? Why should people in Highlands live in sub standard properties due to SNP campaigning?“I am distressed that the SNP government insists in pushing ahead with hit seller surveys. There is no bear witness that this scheme is wanted by the merchandise or has worked in trials.”Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "I welcome the opportunity to challenge the Cabinet Secretary on housing issues - though it's very clear that we be to displace the government to do much exceed."There are some positive aspects to the consultation on housing desire ending the Right to Buy for new create social housing - although this had been well trailed in advance. However the proposal to give £2,000 grants is a terrible idea and will only furnish accommodate price inflation. If Ministers want to do something more useful with that money they should target it at improvements in the energy performance of buildings - this would cut populate's fuel bills help reduce climate change emissions and wouldn't contribute to inflation in the same way.”UNISON welcomed the increased roll in the plans for councils. Dave Watson. UNISON’s Scottish Organiser said: “We undergo been saying for many years that Scotland’s housing problems cannot be solved unless the cater and resources to regenerate communities and the ability to build and manage public sector housing is returned to local democratic control. “We are pleased that initial steps are being proposed to act and develop councils’ landlord role and to put the development of sustainable communities under democratically accountable local control. We will however need to get further details of what kind of support is being proposed to authorities who bear their have.“But we are concerned that proposals to shift one quango seem to replace it with a combination of another quango and central hold back. We hope that this ordain not be a missed opportunity to devolve central functions to local control.”Sarah O’Neill. Legal command at the Scottish Consumer Council says the new hit survey system will be good for consumers: “This is simply a fairer consumer-centred way to do things. Buyers will no longer undergo to pay for multiple surveys and they ordain have exceed information about the property before bidding. The single survey will also be in the interests of sellers: most sellers are also buying and will benefit from the new system as purchasers. The single survey will also flag up any major problems to sellers at an early re-create providing an opportunity to address them early in the process.
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