65 - Rural housing: Public land acquisition and the Right to Live with Hamish Trench and Ailsa Raeburn

The Scottish Housing News Podcast

“Compulsory purchase reform is absolutely critical because we do need a backstop if landowners aren't prepared to come to the table on reasonable terms.”

In this episode, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black speak to two guests who have new proposals to help adequately house people living in rural areas.

Hamish Trench is the chief executive and accountable officer of the Scottish Land Commission, which has just published a new report that outlines various proposals to increase the supply of developable land and therefore the supply of affordable homes in rural areas.

And returning to the podcast is Ailsa Raeburn, chair of Community Land Scotland, which among other things has called for a Right to Live to be introduced to establish a legal right for people to live in the community where they grew up.

This podcast episode discusses the pressing issue of rural housing in Scotland, focusing on the challenges faced by communities in securing affordable homes. The conversation highlights the 'Right to Live' proposal aimed at ensuring local residents have access to housing, the importance of land supply for development, and the need for coordinated efforts among public bodies to address the housing crisis.

The guests emphasise the role of local authorities and the necessity of innovative solutions to support builders and developers in rural areas. The conversation delves into the pressing issues surrounding housing emergencies in Scotland, exploring the roles of compulsory purchase, taxation measures, and planning reforms.

The speakers discuss innovative strategies for housing development, the impact of the closure of Rural Housing Scotland, and the need for long-term solutions to ensure sustainable community growth. They emphasise the importance of collaboration across government and the necessity of creative thinking to address the housing crisis effectively.

A transcript of this episode is available here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/rural-housing-public-land-acquisition-and-the-right-to-live-podcast-transcript

Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-more-equitable-land-ownership-can-put-future-of-rural-housing-on-solid-ground

Further reading:

• SHN report on the new report from the Scottish Land Commission -https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/strong-role-for-public-land-acquisition-to-tackle-rural-housing-crisis-finds-scottish-land-commission

• Land supply for housing in rural Scotland -http://scottishhousingnews.com/uploads/Land%20supply%20for%20housing%20in%20rural%20Scotland.pdf

• ‘Right to live’ coverage on SHN -https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/tag/right-to-live

Kieran Findlay is the editor of Scottish Housing News. Jimmy Black is a former Dundee housing convener and housing justice campaigner.

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