Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Group Forge New Housing Partnership.
Glasgow City Council and Wheatley Group, the city’s leading provider of socially-rented homes, are in the process of drafting a new strategic agreement. The council committee discussed the updated proposal, which builds on the initial agreement approved in 2016. The goal is to adapt to the evolving landscape and jointly deliver more affordable homes in Glasgow. Wheatley Group currently owns over 44,000 homes in the city.
In 2003, Glasgow City Council transferred its housing stock to the newly-established Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), which later became Wheatley Homes Glasgow, a subsidiary of Wheatley Group.
The updated draft agreement represents a pledge to collaborate and develop inventive solutions to housing sector challenges. This coincides with the introduction of Glasgow’s 2023-2028 Housing Strategy, which aims to create thriving communities through high-quality housing and services that meet the needs and expectations of Glasgow’s residents.
The agreement focuses on six key areas for joint efforts:
- Housing supply and regeneration
- Homelessness, health, and social care
- Climate emergency and sustainability
- Tackling poverty and inequality, and increasing opportunities for all
- Optimizing outcomes from joint resources
- City strategic resilience
The council’s City Administration Committee will review the draft agreement for approval at a future date. The partnership will be reassessed every five years, aligning with the review frequency for Glasgow’s Local Housing Strategy.
Councillor Kenny McLean, Convener for Housing at Glasgow City Council, highlighted the importance of strong partnerships in delivering Glasgow’s housing strategy. He said, “Given the significance of Wheatley Group in providing affordable homes to the city, this strategic agreement is vital to our goals. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the council’s housing stock transfer, it’s an opportune time to establish the most effective ways to work together in bringing energy-efficient, high-quality, and affordable homes to Glasgow that meet the city’s needs.”
