gail mathesonjohn mchardy chief executivehousing development manager
TRANSCRIPT
LAND REFORM REVIEW MEETINGSCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
26 AUGUST 2015
Gail Matheson John McHardyChief Executive Housing Development
Manager
Highland Housing Alliance
o Not for profit development companyo Established in 2005 to create more housingo Owned by 5 RSLs, 1 trust and The Highland
Councilo Initially involved with land assembly and
landbanking as well as self build plotso Moved into development and from then into
Mid Market Rent (National Housing Trust)
Darroch Brae, Alness
Why it could have happened
o Main areas of land owned by willing sellerso Demand was thereo Utilities could be sortedo Willing developero BUT…….o Ransom strip across the site entrance – owned
as common area under a deed of conditionso Impossible to purchase the land owned by
multiple personso Development could not proceed
Darroch Brae, Alness
Maryburgh, Ross-shire
Why it should have happened
o Good location with excellent transport linkso Listed as an area for development by THCo A group of landowners willing to sell/ developo Demand for housing and finance availableo BUT………o Landowners had different agendas and timing issues
(tax etc)o Not everyone within each landholding had the same
agendao Complicated ransom strips and landowners wary that
others would benefit more – rather than acting as a collective going forward
Dingwall North
Why it very nearly didn’t happen
o Multiple Ownerso Topography meant that across the masterplan
site, developable area varied o Owners had different aspirations and
expectationso Inability for an entity to purchase all the land
due to financeo Financial crash
But it did because of……
o Local authority proactivityo New funding models (Innovation & Investment
Fund)o Organisation that was able to deal with private
and public sector for land assemblyo Acceptance that no development would
happen if it was an all or nothing scenario