Local Housing Strategy

What is a Local Housing Strategy?

On completion, the Local Housing Strategy will set out the vision for housing and housing related services for the next 5 years - and the steps we need to take to get there. The actions will shape investment in affordable housing, energy efficiency measures, homelessness and a range of other areas, across all tenures.

It's almost 5 years since the previous Local Housing Strategy was developed in 2018, and many of the actions have now been achieved.  Now we need to shape the new strategy to inform the next 5 years, and we need your help to create it.

Who is preparing the Local Housing Strategy?

East Lothian Council's Housing Strategy Team lead on the research, development and monitoring of the Local Housing Strategy.  All of the work is overseen by a Project Team with representatives from across the local authority, East Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership and East Lothian's Tenants and Residents Panel.  The LHS has to be signed off by Council before it is submitted to the Scottish Government for approval.

How can I have my say?

The team will be consulting with local residents on a draft LHS. 

 If you'd like to have a chat with us, please get in touch - our contact details are below. We'll use social media and other means to share questions, surveys and updates over the coming months.

Why should I get involved?

This is a chance to shape East Lothian's future, for yourself and future generations.  Communities are at the heart of East Lothian, and we want local residents to be able to shape the Strategy to ensure it reflects your priorities.

What will be in the Strategy?

It will set out the challenges and opportunities for investment in new and existing housing in East Lothian.  It will include ideas and actions that are about improving housing and housing related services in East Lothian.

We need you to tell us what your priorities are. So, over the next year, we'll be asking local residents for their ideas about how to make East Lothian an even better place to live. And we hope you'll work with us to develop a Strategy that can make those aspirations happen. The content of the final Strategy will be led by our statutory responsibilities and your input. It might include:

• A commitment to the developing wheelchair accessible housing across all tenures
• An action to improve knowledge of housing need and demand in rural areas of East Lothian
• Support to continue existing specialist housing support services or develop new services

Will my idea be in the Strategy?

Although there is likely to be many different ideas from different people across East Lothian, it's likely that ideas which share common goals and themes will be included.

We'd like to get as much input as possible. We want to encourage discussion and debate and speak to as many people and groups as we can. We'll do this through surveys, online events and engagement packs we can send out to community groups. We will also be in communities speaking to local residents, community groups and third sector organisations.

Any questions?

We'd love to hear from you! Contact the Housing Strategy Team here -

Email - lhs@eastlothian.gov.uk

Phone - 06120 827827

Address - Housing Strategy & Development, John Muir House, Haddington, EH41 3HA