By Aileen Robertson

FIFE COUNCIL has been told it has a moral responsibility to plan for 10,000 more new homes to avoid a housing crisis.

At a housing needs conference in Dunfermline, delegates heard the housing allocation in Fife’s amended structure plan, being considered by Scottish ministers, would fall far short of demand.

The changes would mean 35,200 instead of 31,640 new homes would be built over the next two decades.

Labour councillors have warned that would lead to a shortfall of at least 1000 affordable homes, but a report by economic consultant John McLaren, an honorary research fellow at Glasgow University, stated, “With regards to the latest Fife structure plan, it seems this is in danger of seriously underestimating future housing need in Fife.

“Overall, the full analysis in this paper suggests a housing shortfall in Fife of around 10,000 by 2026, and this shortfall is likely to be a conservative estimate.”

Quoting the latest figures from the General Registrar of Scotland, Mr McLaren said Fife’s population of around 350,000 was set to grow faster than previously expected.

He said Fife’s population has grown over the past decade at an increasing pace, largely driven by in-migration, and is projected to grow by 10.7% over the period 2006-2026 —a higher estimate than previous long-term projections.

Mr McLaren said a shortfall in housing could hit those who provide key services, such as nurses and teachers, and added, “On affordability, in general terms more houses will lower prices and lead to greater affordability.

“This in turn will allow immediate and extended families to remain living in the area that they were raised in as well as allowing poorer paid workers in key services like education and health to be able to live in the same communities with which they engage.”

Jim Lochhead, of Homes for Scotland, who is chairman of the regional housebuilders’ committee, said, “The council has to seriously consider the release of housing sites in advance of the new development plans coming in.

“With the changes to the planning act and delays to the local plans, it could be some seven years before the local plans are advanced and that’s too long to wait.

“The report has used government figures to show the shortfall compared to what Fife structure plan has come up with. We have to ask ourselves what will that do to house prices and people’s ability to gain housing.

“In comparison, other authorities of similar size are planning for much more housing than Fife is. If there is a need for 10,000 houses, is it not the council’s responsibility to plan for it, because denying people a house is something I think is morally unacceptable.”

Councillor John Beare, chairman of Fife Council’s planning committee, said the structure plan was out of the local authority’s hands.

He said, “I’m sure if Mr McLaren wants to make any comments to ministers he will be more than welcome.

“The structure plan has been ongoing for some time and started during the previous Labour administration. We recalled the housing land requirement on the basis of up- to-date figures.

“We had a very robust re-appraisal last year and the structure plan is now back with Scottish ministers. If we need to provide more housing, ministers will tell us.

“It’s incumbent on us to provide housing as required to meet future needs,” the councillor added.