The local Housing Strategy

The Scottish Executive has taken an increasing interest in housing issues in recent years, particularly topics such as area regeneration and homelessness. New laws, policies and directives have had a considerable impact on local authorities such as East Lothian, changing their role in regard to housing provision.

The Executive now stresses the enabling and strategic role of councils, in ensuring that a decent supply of housing of all types is available in every part of Scotland. Local Authorities are seen as co-ordinators of provision from other bodies such as Housing Associations and private builders.

For this reason, East Lothian has been at the forefront in developing an overall Housing Strategy for the county as well as a Homeless Strategy for dealing with homelessness You can find documents related to both strategies on the right hand side of this page.

In addition East Lothian Council organises a regular Housing Forum where issues connected with our strategies are discussed amongst stakeholders, along with other topics of local housing interest.

Housing Need Survey - East Lothian's situation analysed

East Lothian's strategies are designed to cope with a problem, common to Edinburgh and the Lothians in recent years, but rare in the rest of Scotland, of heavy housing demand. The extent of the housing need in the county has been assessed by the consultancy, Tribal. Their report is a robust assessment of housing needs in all sectors throughout the Lothians. You can read the Lothian Housing Needs Assessment by clicking on the link. The East Lothian section of the report is available here.  In addition we have prepared a summary outlining the the implications for East Lothian of the reports findings.  Maps are also available, as are the report's appendices.

Fuel Poverty Strategy consultation

We are currently requesting feedback on our Fuel Poverty Strategy Consultative Draft - April 2008 and details of what is involved can be found in the Fuel Poverty Strategy - Cover Letter