Garages to Homes plan: FOI release

Information requested

Any information the Scottish Government has on record relating to a plan that the Scottish Borders Housing Association refers to as Garages to Homes. (The Scottish Government might call it by a different name.)

Anything the SG has on record that is related to any consultation, idea or plan that relates even loosely to the concept of turning either existing garages, or the ground that garages currently sit on into residential units or homes, in particular relating to plans, ideas, consultations, proposals or decisions that relates to garage areas currently owned by Scottish Councils or Scottish Registered Scottish Landlords.

Also, any documents or recordings that relate to dialogue or planning that has taken place between the Scottish Government or any agency acting on its behalf with Scottish Borders Housing Association that relates in any way to Garages to Homes.

Response

I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested from the Scottish Government.

Some of the information you have requested is available from Scottish Borders Council website. See Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2022-27 | Scottish Borders Council (scotborders.gov.uk).

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you.

In terms of planning for the delivery of affordable housing in any local authority area, it is expected that any affordable housing project which is put forward by an eligible organisation (either a Local Authority or Housing Association) for consideration of Scottish Government grant support must first be included in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) of that local authority. The current Scottish Borders SHIP 2022-2027 (as mentioned above) is available on the Scottish Borders Council website. References to "garage" are on pages 42 and 47.

Following the inclusion of these proposed projects in the SHIP document referred to above, the meeting held on 11 August 2022 was the first (and at this point, the only one) which Scottish Government has held with Housing Associations where these "garages to homes" projects have been mentioned. The specific "garages to homes" projects are referred to in the minute as "HUSK" – highlighted in yellow for ease. You should note, that at this particular juncture, these projects have not been approved for grant funding by Scottish Government, they have simply been proposed by the respective housing associations and supported by Scottish Borders Council as part of its Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2022-27, as projects that could be supported if they were to successfully move through the planning process.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies are explained below.

An exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. The sections which have been redacted on the note of the Meeting held on 11 August 2022 are because they contain the name of individuals.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

A38468997#2 - SLPA

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PDF

File size

128.4 kB

A40128995 - Minute

File type

PDF

File size

393.2 kB