Dear Sir,

The Innovation and Investment Fund (IIF) represents an important short-term boost for the affordable housing sector in Scotland. However, it must be conceded this isn't a long-term solution, simply a sticking plaster over an ever-growing problem.

Port of Leith Housing Association's share of funding will allow us to build over 140 homes, a mixture of social and mid-market rent and, while the impact of this boost to Edinburgh's housing supply should not be underestimated, the demand continues to far outstrip what we have the resources to build.

The £50m sum announced by the Scottish Government is significant but the sector as a whole in Scotland has estimated we need over £200m a year in order to meet the demand there is for affordable housing.

There is an immediate pressing and ever-growing need which we cannot afford to ignore. More than just bricks and mortar, good quality housing is intrinsically linked to the positive health, social and economic performance of the country and as such should remain a key priority for the Scottish Government.

We are delighted to have been awarded this sum to build good quality, environmentally efficient homes in communities people want to live in and this supply boost does offer a glimmer of hope. We must keep working together to find innovative solutions in order to deal with this issue before it turns into a crisis.

Yours faithfully,

Keith Anderson
Chief Executive, Port of Leith Housing Association