Affordable housing

One of the Council's Local Housing Strategy (LHS) objectives is to increase the supply of affordable housing to meet the need that has been established across East Lothian.  

The main ways of delivering this objective are the:

• council new build programme
• registered social landlord new build programme
• affordable housing policy

Affordable housing is defined by the Scottish Government as 'housing of a reasonable quality that is affordable to people on modest incomes'. It includes:     

• council and housing association properties
• some private sector rented accommodation
• publicly subsidised low cost housing ownership housing, such as shared ownership and shared equity, as well as low cost unsubsidised housing that is for sale   

Council new build programme

East Lothian Council has begun building new affordable council housing across the county. Details of current and shortly to be completed developments are available from hsd@eastlothian.gov.uk

Registered social landlord (housing association) programme

The Council continues to work in partnership with East Lothian Housing Association and Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association to deliver new affordable housing.

Affordable housing policy

The Council has an affordable housing policy which seeks a contribution to affordable housing from all private housing developments greater than four houses (with some exceptions).The minimum requirement is provision of serviced land (that is, land where the infrastructure is in place).

Council's affordable housing policy

The Council is keen to promote a flexible approach to delivering the numbers and types of affordable homes required. We will work closely with developers, social landlords and other partners to achieve this objective.

The primary requirement for affordable housing in East Lothian is for social rented housing. Where a social landlord or public subsidy is involved in delivering the policy goals, the affordable element is expected to meet minimum development standards laid down by the Scottish Government.Overall, various forms of affordable housing may be appropriate to provide a greater tenure mix and reflect identified need and LHS objectives. 

Further information is available from hsd@eastlothian.gov.uk