The case for a Scottish rural housing enablers programme

• Over the last ten years, rural housing enablers have shown themselves to be effective catalysts for the assessment of housing need, overcoming barriers to development, and engaging communities in new housing supply.

• However, in comparison to other parts of the UK, the work of rural enablers in Scotland is fragmented: patchy in coverage; inconsistently funded; and lacking any central support.

• New initiatives by the Scottish Government on housing supply and policy provide a unique opportunity for rural housing enablers to help deliver on the Government’s agenda.

• A programme supported by the Scottish Government, in partnership with local authorities, could be implemented at very modest cost.