Argyll and Bute Council is progressing a series of actions to address the local housing emergency, recognising that no single solution will resolve the challenges and that a co-ordinated approach is essential.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council said:
“Tackling the housing emergency needs action across a number of fronts, from housing supply to use of existing properties and targeted policy interventions. Decisions on one aspect of the emergency could have implications for other areas of work. So a joined-up approach to this complex issue is vital.”
At the meeting of Council today, councillors noted and agreed different but linked options to increase the availability of homes, support communities and ensure the long‑term sustainability of the area’s economy.
These include:
- Creating worker accommodation to support the delivery of services: investing £55,000 to upgrade space at Tiree School for a new permanent library, and progress designs to convert the existing library building back into residential use.
- Engaging with communities on the future use of Council Tax premiums on second homes and empty properties
- Consulting on the introduction of Short Term Let Control Areas in high‑pressure housing markets -Mull and Iona; Coll and Tiree; Islay/ Jura and Colonsay; and Lorn and the Inner Isles.
- Turning unused sites into housing: the council is progressing work to sell the unused former primary school and council Whitegates sites to a Registered Social Landlord for residential development in Lochgilphead.
The importance of considering all needs of the area was underlined too with one report highlighting that while more permanent housing is essential, so too is tourism accommodation for many of Argyll and Bute’s communities, and overall economy.
Councillor Lynch said:
“Housing and the economy are closely linked. We are taking a holistic approach, and looking across all factors for consideration, so that we can balance and support housing availability and wider economic needs.”
The full report is available on the council’s website.
