Compulsory powers 'could be used' to help Glasgow housing regeneration project

Glasgow City Council could use compulsory powers in a bid to progress a £39.5 million pound city regeneration project by Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association.

The Council’s Executive Committee today (April 18) agreed a proposal to allow compulsory purchase orders to be raised on behalf of Sanctuary Scotland HA to acquire all outstanding houses and sites to facilitate the redevelopment of the site.

The scheme will see a site, currently containing 495 houses, in the city’s Anderston area, cleared to make way for modern better quality houses for social rent and shared equity purchase.

Demolition and redevelopment of the planned 400 new houses will be phased over a five-year period.

Currently, negotiations are continuing with 50 of the 93 private homeowners that have not yet agreed to purchase proposals from Sanctuary Scotland HA.

Options open to owners include receiving full market value for their property, opportunities to buy a new house in Anderston on a shared equity basis when they are ready, receiving fees and expenses for inconvenience and disturbance and receiving free rent decant accommodation until new housing becomes available.

It is hoped that compulsory purchase orders will only be used as a last resort.

Executive Member for Development and Regeneration Services, Councillor George Ryan, said: “The Council is backing Sanctuary Scotland’s redevelopment plans to breathe new life into this area of the city, improving the standard of socially rented housing and making it a desirable place to live.

“There has been extensive consultation with the local community, overseen by the Anderston Residents Regeneration Group, on how residents would like the new housing development to look, what facilities it will offer and the best way forward.

“This regeneration project has been a long time in the planning and the majority of residents are looking forward to getting the development underway and the benefits it will bring.