Letter: Housing needs

The news that 12 Scottish local authorities have signed up for the new National Housing Trust initiative, to provide around 1,000 new affordable homes to rent by purchasing newly-built houses (your report, 24 September), is to be welcomed.

This should act as a stimulus to the Scottish construction industry at a crucial time, when the prospect of a major contraction in capital programmes is looming.

As such it will be welcomed by hundreds of skilled building workers and apprentices in Scotland, whose livelihoods depend on continued investment from the public and private sectors. In the current climate, it is imperative that we look at innovative methods such as this for delivering homes and safeguarding jobs.

However, the bigger picture gives those of us in the construction industry cause for concern. Many councils are planning further major cuts in their expenditure on affordable housing, after already slashing budgets for 2010-11.

Not only is this bad for those struggling to get a home for their families, it also threatens the recovery of Scotland's building sector.

With construction one of the most important parts of Scotland's private sector, this could seriously weaken our country's long-term growth prospects.

Those in central and local government must continue to regard new homes as a priority in order to secure the many social and economic benefits associated with construction.

Andy Mallice

Rok, Scotland

Newbridge

Edinburgh