The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader has described his party's housing policy as a 'win-win' for key workers and the economy. With the Holyrood election just days away, Alex Cole-Hamilton visited Inverness on Monday to promote the plan.
Key worker housing pledge
Under the Liberal Democrat proposals, 10,000 new homes would be constructed and offered at mid-market rent specifically for key workers. Local councils would be empowered to determine which sectors qualify for the housing support in their areas.
Cole-Hamilton emphasised the need to address Scotland's chronic housing shortage. He stated: 'Scottish Liberal Democrats will tackle the chronic housing shortage by returning housebuilding to a level that gets 25,000 new homes built annually, and create new key worker housing so that finding a home isn't a barrier to taking up a job when somewhere is crying out for your skills.'
The party leader criticised the Scottish National Party's handling of housing policy, saying: 'Housebuilders tell me the SNP's chopping and changing of housing policy must end because it's forced big institutional investors away.' He also highlighted the impact on care homes, noting that 'care home bosses tell me their staff can't find somewhere to live.'
A 'win-win' for Scotland
Cole-Hamilton argued that the policy would benefit both the construction sector and vital industries. 'This key worker housing policy is a win-win. We'd get Scotland building again and secure a supply of workers in vital industries,' he said. 'It will mean finding a home isn't a barrier to taking up a job when somewhere is crying out for your skills.'
The Liberal Democrat leader stressed the importance of local decision-making: 'Lib Dems believe in giving power back to communities. That's why we believe it should be up to councils to decide who qualifies as a key worker in their area. In some locations that might mean building housing reserved for NHS or care staff. In others, it might be teachers or farm workers.'
Conservative response
Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesman Tim Eagle criticised the SNP's record on housing in rural areas. He said: 'The SNP have neglected the housing needs of rural Scotland for nearly 20 years now. Their failure to deliver homes has had deeply damaging consequences for our economy, making it less likely for people to live and work in areas such as northern Scotland.'
Eagle outlined the Conservative alternative: 'The Scottish Conservatives would take a comprehensive approach by backing repopulation zones and bringing empty buildings back into use. We would work with local authorities and health boards to ensure there is enough housing for key workers such as nurses, doctors and dentists to make rural Scotland beneficial for them and their families.'
