The Strategic Housing Investment Program (SHIP), which will now be submitted to the Scottish Government, includes the council working with registered social landlords to deliver up to 7,200 additional affordable homes, the majority of which will be new-build properties for social rent. The plan’s priorities include increasing the supply of larger family homes, wheelchair-friendly housing and meeting the needs of older households.

The plans also include supporting the RSLs in acquiring 550 properties that could be used to provide housing for homeless households.

The grant required to deliver the scheme is estimated to be around £1.139 million.

In addition, the council has identified 37 sites across the city that have the potential to build a further 4,320 new homes. Additional development opportunities include the possibility of the council working with RSL to repurpose a number of vacant properties in the city center for housing, which could generate more than 800 new homes.

While local authorities are required to update and submit a five-year SHIP to the government annually, this is the first in Glasgow since declare a housing emergency in November 2023. The plans also take into account rising housing construction costs, which have more than halved since 2018, as well as the reduction in funding allocation to support councils and RSLs in building affordable homes .

Councilor Ruairi Kelly, housing, development and land use coordinator at Glasgow City Council, said: “The housing emergency is one of the biggest pressures facing our city and building more affordable homes is a top priority now and in the years to come.

“The SHIP reflects the reality of the perfect storm of rising costs, rising demands, budget pressures and demographic changes. But it is also realistic about what can be achieved in Glasgow and the difference thousands of new homes would make to our citizens.

“We have strong partnerships with social landlords and across the sector to meet all our housing needs, including innovative approaches from acquiring existing properties to repurposing vacant office space. “We are committed to working with government colleagues to unlock investment, realize our potential and meet the needs of our city.”

As part of the SHIP process, the council engaged with housing associations and social landlords, as well as the construction sector, to gather views on key issues and challenges, as well as approaches to investing in and delivering more affordable housing. Ongoing consultation with key partners on our response to housing and homelessness pressures has also informed the programme.

It is expected that around 80% of the affordable homes built in this period will be for social rental.

The SHIP includes a requirement that 10% of all new homes in affordable housing developments be wheelchair accessible and that 40 new large family homes (four or more bedrooms for families of six or more people) be built each year ).

Councilor Kelly added: “We know that inflationary pressures caused by multiple reasons beyond our control have increased housing construction costs by more than 50% in recent years. And that achieving our goals will be a challenge. But our needs are very real, as are the objectives we have set and the investment necessary to achieve them.

“This is an investment not only in housing but in reducing homelessness and the number of families in temporary accommodation. “It’s about tackling child poverty, building new communities, meeting our sustainability targets, changing the population and stimulating Scotland’s economy.”