Affordable housing has been a topic of considerable significance
in the planning sphere in Scotland over the last couple of years.
The Scottish Government has published guidance in terms of PAN74
and more recently in SPP3
(Planning for Housing - An Evaluation of SPP3)
While it is fair to acknowledge that affordable housing has
become a topic of growing significance, it would be wrong to assume
that the need to provide affordable housing has only recently been
identified. The Local Plan relating to the St Andrews area adopted
in 1996 recognised the issue some 7 or so years before there was
Scottish Government guidance.
In some areas the need for affordable housing is significantly
greater than others. Many of the areas where there is greatest
pressure are rural areas or areas where there is a high proportion
of holiday homes. While there is a dispute about the extent of the
problem there is no real issue that there is a significant problem.
Over the last 3 or 4
