Summer 2004 Newsletter
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Rural Housing Issue Newsletter of the Southern Uplands Partnership No.16 Summer 2004 SCOTS HOUSE PRICES UP 12% IN RECORD RISE • Rural Home Ownership Grants according to a recent article on The Scotsman website. And • A community self-build programme which would combine prices are expected to rise by 18% over the course of the year, Rural Home Ownership Grants and developing building compared with a UK forecast increase of 16%, says the Bank of skills for young people Scotland arm of the HBoS group. • An investigation of the effects of the Smallholding Policy For those who own and the Affordable Housing Plan for National Forest Land their homes this is no • Highlighting the need for affordable housing in villages doubt excellent and which would in turn attract more social housing initiatives exciting news. But for to retain young people. many who are looking to get on the property The Glenkens Housing Group is chaired by Lyndy Renwick who ladder in the rural south says “We started the group last October after talking about how of Scotland prospects the lack of affordable rural houses was becoming a major issue. are not so bright. How We decided if no one else was doing anything we would do it sustainable are our ourselves. People need to small communities if stand up and be counted to young people are unable make change happen. The to find a home? And group is open to anybody what sort of community who shares the same will it be for those young objectives.” families who do remain? Lyndy can be contacted Lyndy Renwick In this newsletter we by phone on 01644 420242 report on some issues and initiatives relating to rural housing. for more information. If you It is by no means all doom and gloom, however. People in are involved with an rural communities are working to influence the situation. In organisation that is making November 2003 a group of long term residents within the things happen, and would Glenkens area formed a group to look at the problem in their like to share your locality, seeing affordable housing as a precursor to recreating experience through the SUP an inclusive and positive community within the Glenkens. This newsletter, please let us group is interested in developing: know. SUCCESSFUL AGM AND MEMBERS DAY IN MOFFAT Following a fascinating • Participate in the development of the Rural visit as guests of Mr Brian Development Plan to maximise opportunities for Ryder at his new the Southern Uplands. Hammerlands •Target key issues of local concern and pursue development on the these relentlessly. outskirts of Moffat, • See changes in demographics as challenges and members returned to opportunities - quality of life citizenship issues. Moffat Town Hall for the The meeting closed with a presentation by the AGM, buffet supper and Directors of the SUP to Barbara Kelly to mark her role evening open meeting. in the start up of the Partnership and her time as The meeting was Convenor. addressed by Sarah Boyack MSP, who reported on the work of the Scottish Sarah Boyack MSP speaks at the 2004 Parliament Environment & AGM. Rural Affairs Committee, of which she is Convenor. Retiring SUP Convenor Barbara Kelly then spoke on the past and future of the Partnership. In response to this, and lively discussion arising from questions from the floor, Ms Boyack made the following recommendations to the Bracken rolling and helicopter spraying. Two of a number of practical Partnership demonstrations at the bracken control demonstration hosted by The International Bracken Group in association with SUP and other in the College Valley, • Be proactive about involving local and list MSPs. Northumberland in July. DIRECTORS COMMENT VICKY DAVIDSON At last it seems that the housing crisis besetting rural Scotland is the cost of a modest starter home. (If the house finally struggling to the top of the political agenda. It’s an issue is sold within ten years the grant is clawed that can no longer be ignored as rural house prices disappear into back.) It’s a great idea and if a number of the stratosphere fuelled by under provision and over demand. The would-be home-owners work together they can small farm cottage near Ettrick Valley where I spent my early years further reduce the cost of building the houses. recently went on the market at offers over £175,000 and sold Yet again, however, the South of Scotland within weeks! can only look with envy at the level of support Recent rural housing needs surveys have pointed up the range already in place in the Highlands. There the and depth of our housing problems – the deteriorating condition of grants are administered by the local housing much privately rented accommodation, the ‘hidden households’ associations and take-up is running at several where adults continue to live with their parents for lack of any hundred per year. In contrast only 2-3 are allocated each year in other available house, the decreasing number of cottages to rent, the Borders. If we really want to encourage young families to live and the ‘affordability gap’ faced by local families trying to buy in our rural communities here in the Southern Uplands then we within their own community. There are simply not enough houses have to do our best to make sure there are houses available and to either buy or rent at affordable prices for young people wishing start upping the level of practical support on offer. to set up home within our rural communities. What can be done? The Scottish Executive has recently Vicky Davidson consulted on a new policy statement, ‘Planning for Rural SUP Director and Cllr with Scottish Borders Council Development’ which many will see as a step in the right direction. Meanwhile Communities Scotland, the government body charged Further information on RHOGs or on any issue relating to rural with looking after housing matters, has several grant schemes housing is available from Derek Logie at the Rural Housing Service intended to help increase the rural housing stock – most notably the 0131-477-4506 or derek @ruralhousingscotland.org ‘Rural Home Ownership Grant’(RHOG) and the ‘Rural Empty Properties Grant’. (The ‘Rural Empty Properties Grant’ is designed to encourage The RHOG is intended to help people living in rural areas to private landlords to bring their empty properties back into good become first time homeowners and is meant to bridge the gap condition and provide long-term rented accommodation for the between the maximum level of mortgage the applicant can raise and benefit of the local community.) NEW DIRECTORS STATISTICS SHOW Sir Michael Strang Steel has joined the Board of Directors of the Southern Uplands Partnership. Sir GROWING Michael, a farmer, landowner and keen forester has served as Forestry Commissioner for 11 years and is AFFORDABILITY GAP currently a member of the Deer Commission for To get a handle on the changes in wages and house Scotland. He is Chairman of Scottish Forestry Trust prices we consulted Bill Mitchell at SOSEP who and Royal Scottish Forestry Society Trust Co. Cashel provided the following information for the Dumfries and also Trustee of Borders Foundation for Rural & Galloway and the Scottish Borders local authority Sustainability. The recent AGM also saw Robert Hall re-elected areas. as an Individual Director and Wilma Finlay and Between April 2001 and April 2003 average Veronica (Vicky) Davidson elected formally as Group gross weekly earnings of full time employees, as Directors. Mr Hall runs a hill sheep and beef farm in recorded by the New Earnings Survey, rose by 3.2% Dumfriesshire and markets Falklands wool. He is from around £359 to £371 (this compares to a rise also a Trustee of the Glencairn Community Trust and in Scotland as a whole of 8% over the same period). has strong interests in sustainable agriculture, House prices during this period rose by 28%, from natural history and field sports. Mrs Finlay has lived an average of £76,230 to £97,526 – almost nine in Galloway for 12 years and has helped her husband times wage rate rises. David to diversify the family farm into dairy Earnings figures have not been released for April processing and tourism. Their business, Cream o’ 2004 yet, but a rise of around 3% on the April 2003 Galloway, is now 10 years old and employs 16 full figure can be assumed (which is probably at the top time permanent staff and 30 seasonal staff. Mrs end of expectations). House prices in the year to Finlay is also involved in the Gatehouse Development April 2004 rose by around 28% (£97,526 to Initiative. Councillor Davidson grew up in the £125,252), probably about ten times the rate of Ettrick Valley and retains a close ties to the family increase in average earnings. farm. Following a career as an event organiser and As Bill explains, “Put another way, in 2001 radio producer she returned to the Borders where average house prices were about 4.1 times average she is currently a councillor with Scottish Borders full time earnings. In 2004 average house prices will Council where she pushes for a greater input to and probably be around 6.3 times average earnings”. awareness of the needs and potential of the rural areas. South Lanarkshire Council report that their local Since the AGM, Judith Nicol, MBE has been co- authority has also seen the percentage increase in opted on to the Board of Directors. Ms Nicol has house prices well outstrip percentage increases in spent her career working with and promoting the pay. Some rural house areas have seen the greatest interests of rural industries and communities and the growth.