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