The main purpose of the consultation was to ascertain:
Argyll and Bute Council launched the survey to better understand how a lack of suitable housing affects one of the area's most pressing challenges: the decline in younger and working-age households. The survey was carried out as part of a project, funded by the Scottish Government's Addressing Depopulation Fund, that will look at housing influences people's decisions to stay, leave, or relocate to the area.
The Housing and Depopulation Research project focuses on two key areas:
• Workforce housing: What types and numbers of affordable, suitable homes are needed to support Argyll and Bute's current and future workforce?
• Younger and working-age households: What are the experiences of people aged 16-44 living in Argyll and Bute? For those who have left, what influenced that decision-and could better housing options encourage them to return?
What the response was:
The survey received 551 responses overall. The majority of the responses (82.3%) were from young people currently living in Argyll & Bute, followed by 9% of people who used to live in Argyll & Bute and would like to return; 4.6% of people who used to live in Argyll & Bute and do not want to return and 4% of respondents who are not from Argyll & Bute but would like to move to the area.
What was decided as a result of the response:
The survey findings will feed into the Council's updated Housing Need and Demand Assessment 2026 and will provide evidence for further partner engagement to consider alternative models of housing and address the identified needs of employers/workforce.
