Hansard

I, too, appreciate the fact that Gordon MacDonald has brought the debate to the chamber. I share with him an interest in this topic, and I know from his committee work that he is passionate about it.

I take this opportunity to highlight the success and impact of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership. One of my very first meetings as a new MSP was with the partnership, and it certainly left a strong impression on me.

The role of empty homes officers in councils is essential, given their dedication and hard work in identifying empty homes, managing them and bringing them back into use. Argyll and Bute Council in my region was the first council to declare a housing emergency, and it quickly arranged a summit that brought together a lot of stakeholders and led to Shelter Scotland funding a second empty homes officer for the council.

The efforts of empty homes officers in co-ordinating work with home owners, local authorities and stakeholders are essential. One thing that they do really well is setting up opportunities to retrofit and renovate housing. As we heard from Foysol Choudhury,

“The Greenest building is the one that already exists”.

I am very clear that we could renovate three empty homes for the price of achieving one new-build home. At a time when finances are tight, that is an important direction of travel. I recognise that it will not necessarily solve all our housing issues, but it is important.

The stock of empty homes in Scotland is currently valued at £3.4 billion. I will not go into detail on that, because Gordon MacDonald already mentioned the Indigo House report and the information that it contains, but I will just note that that document is tremendously useful.

I also ask the Scottish Government to consider the merits of enforced sales, which Ben Macpherson mentioned, along with rental orders to address long-term empty properties. I, too, would appreciate an update on how we are progressing with that.

The fact is that not all local authorities have the same needs. A nuanced approach is needed; as has been highlighted, not all authorities have empty homes officers. Last week, in response to a ministerial statement on the planning hub, I asked whether we could include some kind of central specialist resource that would include empty homes officers, the provision of legal advice and other matters that could assist local authorities in using new powers such as enforced sale.

We need to support local authorities with resources and tools. As I have said, the environmental benefits of retrofitting existing homes cannot be overestimated; it will reduce carbon emissions and improve our energy efficiency. However, we must remember the need for a fabric-first approach to retrofitting.

In the few seconds that I have left, I will touch briefly on the benefits for communities and housing. Bringing empty homes back into use will help tackle homelessness and provide affordable housing options much more quickly for communities that need them. I am aware of some successful examples; I am thinking of what is happening in Campbeltown—again through Argyll and Bute Council—and in Perth and Kinross. I have visited both places, and I would highlight, in addition, Midsteeple Quarter, which is a community-led project in Dumfries.

The big challenge in rural and island communities is the lack of available tradespeople, which is why I am pushing for mobile training provision in traditional building skills such as lead roofing and stone masonry. Such an approach will take upskilling right to the heart of our communities.

We must share best practice and support communities and councils so that they can lead the way. We already know what needs to be done. I want to see pathways created, and I would like the Government to support them to make it easier for communities and councils to take the initiative in bringing empty homes back into use.