Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 3:03 pm on 30 October 2024.
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues, City of Edinburgh Council and other relevant stakeholders regarding how its financial planning can support the delivery of affordable housing in Edinburgh. (S6O-03858)
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government regularly meets ministerial colleagues and partners and stakeholders to discuss financial planning matters concerning Edinburgh and elsewhere in Scotland. Those meetings cover housing, along with other capital investment programmes.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that engagement and the collaborative work that the Scottish ministers are doing across the board to support Edinburgh in its housing challenges. With a growing population and economy, demand for housing in Edinburgh is particularly acute. As ministers are aware, land in Granton in my constituency has the potential to meet a significant amount of that demand through the Granton waterfront development. Therefore, I would be grateful if the minister and officials could continue constructive dialogue with the City of Edinburgh Council and others about coming to a financial arrangement sooner rather than later to realise more of Granton’s potential for the benefit of the people of north Edinburgh and beyond, because it could be transformational.
The housing-led regeneration and investment plans for Granton are ambitious and have the potential to deliver for local people and the regional economy by transforming lives, creating a strong sense of place and delivering jobs and prosperity. Officials are continuing to work with the City of Edinburgh Council and other key partners to explore options for how we might be able to progress the development.