The Forestry Commission Scotland is reviewing its 660,000 ha land portfolio to see how much of it could be sold for affordable housing.

The commission has launched a consultation on its review, which would enable housing associations to buy plots allocated for affordable homes at a reduced price.

A commission spokesman said “no limit” had been set on how much land could be sold. The amount would depend on how much associations needed, he added.

David Orr, director of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said the review could be a big opportunity for rural associations.

“In almost every part of rural Scotland, the biggest obstacle to development is land supply. If the commission can improve supply at a reasonable cost, it has the potential to be very useful.”

The review proposal forms part of the Forestry Commission’s national forest land scheme.

Scotland’s forestry minister, Lewis Macdonald, said: “This consultation paper strives to put people and communities at the top of the agenda”.

The consultation will end on 7 February 2005.

Source

Housing Today

Postscript

Read the document at www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland