Skip to main content

Local Housing Strategy (LHS)

The Scottish Government require every local authority in Scotland to develop a comprehensive housing strategy for its area covering all aspects of housing supply and demand in the area. This includes information on private sector housing, house condition and the social rented market.

The Shetland Islands Council in partnership with NHS Shetland, Hjaltland Housing Association, Shetland Tenants Forum, the voluntary sector and many other agencies developed the first Local housing Strategy (LHS) for Shetland in 2005. This covered the 2004-2009 period and is available below.

Work is now underway with partners to develop a new Local Housing Strategy (LHS) to cover the 2010-2015 period. Guidance issued by the Scottish Government on the requirements of the new Local Housing Strategy is also available online.

The new Local Housing Strategy will set housing policy and housing supply targets for the 2010-2015 period. These will be developed in conjunction with the new Local Development Plan which will ensure an adequate land supply is available to meet the LHS housing supply targets.

The first stage in developing the new LHS is to gather evidence on the local housing market, including information on the need, demand and condition of housing across Shetland. This stage is nearing completion, with a full assessment of Shetland's housing need and demand currently with the Scottish Government for their formal appraisal. Further information is available online at www.shetland.gov.uk/hnda.

Future plans include developing a number of ways for you to get involved and help shape the new LHS. These will be posted online soon.