Housing to 2040

In 2019, the Scottish Government looked at what Scotland’s homes and communities should look and feel like in 2040, and the options and choices to get there.  

Its Housing to 2040 draft vision and principles emerged from the initial round of stakeholder engagement.

We supported the Housing to 2040 consultation with:

• a series of summer engagement workshops
• interviews with those involved in delivery of recent affordable housing
• a travelling exhibition 

During the summer of 2019, we travelled with the Scottish Government to four locations across Scotland to review the delivery of recent affordable housing: built and planned. We visited:

• Dunbeg, Argyll and Bute
• Paisley, Renfrewshire
• Pennywell, Edinburgh
• Inverkeithing, Fife

We sought to identify ‘what good looks’ like and ‘how to get there’ in a range of settings. We heard the voices and stories of professionals, local people and residents, and discussed the skills and resources needed.

We used Scotland’s Place Standard tool to consider what it takes to create housing and places capable of improving our health and wellbeing.

The workshops produced lessons for housing policy and delivery. At various points during the tour, Scottish Government ministers joined the workshops.

Dunbeg workshop report

This workshop focussed on Highlands and Islands growth. We discussed the housing under construction in Dunbeg. It is the largest programme of its kind in Argyll and Bute for many years. From here we plan to draw wider lessons for housing growth in the Highland and Islands.

Paisley workshop report

This workshop focussed on town-centre regeneration. We discussed the 20-year regeneration of the Arnott’s Backlands site in Paisley. Here a fourth phase of housing is under construction. From here we plan to draw wider lessons for housing growth new in town centres. 

Pennywell workshop report

Following a site visit to new housing in Pennywell in Edinburgh, we discussed the emerging masterplan for neighbouring Granton. We also looked at what can be learned from it for large-scale urban regeneration.

Inverkeithing workshop report

This workshop focussed on housing growth through suburban infill (constructing new buildings between existing structures). We discussed the transformational housing replacing Inverkeithing’s Fraser Avenue. From here we plan to draw wider lessons for the public sector and housing association. We will work with local people to deliver improved housing, while enhancing the assets of a place.

We spoke to five people involved in the recent affordable housing projects in Paisley and Dunbeg above. You can read about their experiences in the links below.

Paisley: the resident’s experience

Ian Patrick is a Paisley resident and trustee at Methodist Central Hall. Here he talks about the delivery of affordable housing, town centre challenges, and potential for the high street. Read Ian’s blog.

Paisley: the architect’s experience

Adrian Stewart is the Director at DO Architecture. Here he talks about Paisley’s dense urban environment’s impact on placemaking, consulting the neighbourhood, and a post-occupancy evaluation. Read Adrian’s blog.

Dunbeg: the community contact’s experience 

Moira MacVicar is Partnership Lead at the West Highland Housing Association. Here she talks about a partnership between the housing association, developer and the community. The project also engaged learners from the local school about the landscaping and play areas. Read Moira’s blog.

Dunbeg: the architect’s experience 

Tom Connolly is Director at Elder & Cannon Architects. He talks about coastal environment challenges, integrating the project into existing settlements, and consulting the community. He recommends a more joined-up process within local authorities for housing projects in Scotland. Read Tom’s blog.

Dunbeg: the client’s experience 

Colin Culross is Director of Development and Asset Management at Link Housing Association. Here he talks about getting the right people in the room to move the project forward, consulting the community and hiring local suppliers. Read Colin’s blog.

A 2019 travelling exhibition visited places across Scotland to hear from local people about Scotland’s homes and communities should look and feel like in 2040.

The interactive exhibition, supported by A&DS, travelled to 12 places around the country. Present Voices – Futures Lives was designed to hear from people and engage communities across Scotland.

Facilitated workshop sessions, designed to hear from a range of voices, accompanied the exhibition.

The views collected through the consultation and the travelling exhibition helped inform the Scottish Government’s final vision and route map for housing over the next 20 years.

Present Voices – Future Lives was curated and designed by Edinburgh University’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA), Collective Architecture, and Peak15Design. Filmmaker Chris Leslie and Sandy Halliday of Gaia Group were also involved.