'Realistic' houses for everyone?

Dear readers - another week dawns for us all. 

Over the weekend, we published Catriona Stewart’s second look at Glasgow buses. This time, Cat was lasering in on the promise of franchising being dangled in front of the city’s bus users – and the obstacles (including private bus companies not so keen to lose public subsidies) standing in the way. 

“Depressing,” was Angus Mackinnon’s verdict, although there was praise for Stirling Council’s approach to ferrying around its citizens. “Excellent piece,” was feedback from our comment section. We’re sure there will be more coming on buses, although this week we’re covering the strange abandonment of Glasgow’s oldest street and going on a particularly radical stroll down memory lane. 

But first: your Monday briefing.

Big story: Glasgow’s housing strategy finally sets sail 

Top line: In November last year, Glasgow followed Edinburgh in declaring a housing emergency, warning of “unprecedented pressures” and more than 5,200 open homelessness cases. 

It wasn’t until the end of last week, however, that we finally got more detail on the city’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP). The basic headline is that the council will work with registered social landlords (RSLs) to deliver up to 7,200 additional affordable homes over the next five years, around 80% of which will be new-builds for social rent. 

Of these new affordable homes, 10% have to be adaptable for wheelchair use and at least 40 are required to be large family homes, designed for households of six or more. Proposals were developed in consultation with housing associations, private developers, the Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, the voluntary sector and other organisations.

All aboard: But this will only happen if money is forthcoming. The council needs a grant from the Scottish government of over £1bn to deliver the programme, and the national Budget is likely not to be finalised until January – meaning it might be a few months before GCC gets an answer. Following the UK Budget, calculations are also ongoing to work out whether there might be some in-year money available.

• Already, the housing plan represents a “realistic” approach, says SNP councillor Ruairi Kelly, the convener for housing development. In 2023, SHIP was initially approved by councillors, with projections to build 7,500 affordable homes. Since then, there’s been a rise in costs associated with such projects – and a revised housebuilding target which reflects this. 
• "We know that inflationary pressures caused by multiple reasons outwith our control have increased the costs of house building by well over 50% in recent years,” said councillor Kelly in a statement accompanying the most recent SHIP announcement. Meeting our targets will be challeng[ing]”. 

Not all housing crises are created equal: Meanwhile, figures from Shelter Scotland show that the number of people in temporary homeless accommodation has reached a record high. Of all Scottish regions, Glasgow saw the highest increases, attributed to a doubling in applications from asylum seekers and refugees. The council has also reduced its use of bed and breakfast accommodation, which has pushed up occasions on which it has been unable to provide temporary accommodation. 

This Thursday, Living Rent is organising a day of action, meeting outside Glasgow City Chambers at 6:30pm. They’re calling on GCC to implement the National Planning Framework 4 (a national long-term plan that recommends private developers provide 25% of affordable housing in all projects), as well as to deliver “social housing not luxury flats”, and “put the interest of the people of Glasgow over those of private developers”.

Vacating, vacating, vacating: Analysis by the Ferret in 2022 found that 30% of the council’s 2,639 properties were vacant. They found that the city council and its various arms owned 18% of all vacant city properties, including 300 plots of land, 165 offices, 127 shops and 65 workshops.

Since then, Glasgow's empty homes strategy has brought over 1700 homes back to productive use, and GCC has an annual target of bringing back into use 200–250 empty homes. As of April this year, there were 2641 long term-empty homes in Glasgow, classified as having been empty for over six months. Between April 2023–March 2024, the council has also carried out 34 compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) across the city, partnering with housing associations to buy empty properties. 

Bottom line: Everyone agrees Glasgow needs more affordable houses, desperately. State funding has already been cut by £196m, and private developers – often the ‘back up plan’ when government wells are dry – are currently plumping for projects like purpose built student accommodation, which offer high profit margins. But Glasgow’s councillors are determined to get their plans across the line. If Holyrood doesn’t deliver the goods, the build programme will be “adjusted accordingly,” councillor Kelly told The Bell, but the city council will “continue to look for additional funding and new funding models [...] wherever it can be found”.

Your Bell briefing

🚫 A loyal order parade was rerouted away from two Catholic churches after a “standoff” with protestors on Sunday. While plans for the The Apprentice Boys of Derry in Scotland’s Remembrance Day march to pass Calton's St Alphonsus Church and St Mary's had been approved by Glasgow City Council, the decision had been criticised earlier in the week by parish priest, Canon Tom White. White was previously the subject of a sectarian attack in 2018, when an Orange walk went past St Alphonsus’; in the wake of the incident, Police Scotland had advised that all future loyal order marches in the area should not be allowed to go past Catholic churches. However, the Apprentice Boys were given the green light, leading to disruption, local business closure and the delay of Mass when protestors blockaded the march route at St Aphonsus’. Eventually, Police Scotland intervention saw the parade moved away. The council have said they had no legal power to impose conditions on the route, a statement that Call It Out, an organisation campaigning against “anti-Catholic bigotry”, have challenged. 

🏠 Two former employees of Scotland's largest social housing landlord scammed the organisation out of £25,000 using vouchers intended for cash-strapped families. Couple Donna Baillie and Stephen Kelly both worked for Wheatley Homes in Glasgow and were able to obtain vouchers issued by the company supposed to be used by residents for fuel payments. They were caught after a company audit. Sentencing at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday saw the pair ordered to repay £5,000 of compensation to Wheatley, and be given 270 hours of unpaid work, with an additional two years of supervision. 

🌳 Glasgow is set to miss a 2030 Net Zero climate target by up to 40%, a new report says. A paper being presented to the city council’s Net Zero committee warns that, according to current trajectories, Glasgow will only achieve 60% of its climate goals by the deadline. Green councillors are now calling for more national funding to close the gap, highlighting the work that’s already been achieved. “The majority of our emissions as a city come from transport and the built environment,” said councillor Lana Reid-McConnell, Glasgow Green party’s climate emergency spokesperson. “We need government support to progress bus franchising at a faster rate, accompanied with a major roll out of green infrastructure.”

Spot of the week: The Barrowland Ballroom 

Barry Can’t Swim closed out the weekend in a two-night run at the Barras last night. The atmosphere in the venue, as ever, was electric, and the Edinburgh producer and DJ was on jubilant form. Likewise, there was little indication in the crowd that it was a school night, with revellers rising onto pals’ shoulders as the sounds of ‘Sunsleeper’ closed out the set. Earlier, he’d brought Northern Irish poet somedeadbeat on stage for ‘Deadbeat Gospel’ to rapturous applause. Barry!  

If you'd like to submit a 'Spot of the week', send in a short blurb and photo to editor@glasgowbell.co.uk.

Media picks

What’s up, dock? The Govan Graving Docks are gearing up for change, as documented by filmmaker and photographer Chris Leslie in a new short film about the the past, present and future of the post-industrial site. The area was long neglected after the docks closed in 1988, but during the pandemic the ‘Govan Wetlands’, a community interest company, began restoring the post-industrial land into wetland ecosystems for climate adaptation. Now, over three hundred homes are set to be built on part of the site by O’DonnellBrown architects in a £125m development. Dry Dock No1, built in 1869, is also reopening for use in historic boat repairs, 36 years after it closed. Architect Jennifer O’Donnell hopes the development “will open up the site to the city and create a connection with the River Clyde”. 

Sturgeon, standing down: Hitting the gym, getting her five-a-day in, and gearing up for a comedy festival – Nicola Sturgeon is on a health kick. Kieran Andrews and John Boothman have been assessing the former First Minister’s next moves in an in-depth piece for the Times Scotland. It will come as no surprise that Sturgeon has been looking at her life beyond Holyrood for some time now, as well as focusing on writing her memoir. But close allies say she and Humza Yousaf are both preparing to stand down, and won’t be running in the 2026 election. “‘Nobody expects them to stand,’ said one senior party figure in the city.”

‘Baw deep in the budget’: Comedians Raymond Mearns and Stuart Mitchell dove into financial matters in the Glesga Dad podcast last week, proffering advice for all, “whether you're a business owner, investor, or simply a bam with no disposable income”. Mearns is surprisingly incisive on monetary policy, as well as predictably forthright and foul-mouthed. “We’re absolutely taxed to the bollocks, both in terms of direct taxation and indirect taxation, VAT and duty. I’m telling you, it’s time for business to gie a bit back.”

Things to do  

Tuesday 

🎨 Need some standout Christmas gifts? Snag artworks for friends and family at Project Ability’s annual group exhibition. The organisation – which supports artists living with disability or mental ill-health – will be showing work produced across its three studios at Trongate 103 arts centre, themed around music and musicals from 7 November right up until 21 December. Most pieces are for sale too. Get them quick. 

Wednesday 

🗣Wish to practise your beginner Mandarin or show off a proficiency in French? Glasgow Caledonian Uni is hosting a Languages Cafe in their Campus Life Lounge as part of their ongoing Festival of Cultures. Talk, it turns out, is cheap; tickets are free. 

Thursday

🎻 When Tchaikovsky comes to town, you know the festive season is really underway. The Scottish Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Sir Mark Elder at City Halls, for a performance of the Russian composer's iconic Sleeping Beauty ballet score, as part of the BBC’s SSO season. Tickets from £6. 

Friday 

🎵 Maverick outfit Project Smok will be bringing their unique blend of neo-trad to one of the city’s favourite venues. Catch them at SWG3, from £20.50.

Saturday 

💃 The winter nights are dark anyway, so you may as well spend them inside. But if you’re looking to swap your living room for more energetic options, Berghain resident Roi Perez is pitching up in the city. He’ll be playing for Berkeley Suite attendees until close, tickets from £10 a pop.