Seòmar agus comataidhean

That ends stage 2 consideration of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. I thank members, the cabinet secretary and her officials.

Amendment 445, in my name, is grouped with amendments 554, 447 and 562. I will speak to and move amendment 445, as well as speaking to the other amendments in the group.

Amendment 445 is on co-housing guidance. As well as making homes more accessible to more people, we are committed—through national planning framework 4—to creating space for placemaking. Co-housing is a housing and placemaking model that is well suited to supporting us in that endeavour. It offers communities and local authorities the opportunity to come together, not only to meet housing needs but to provide a neighbourly place where people can engage with and support one another and create a space that meets everyone’s requirements.

That approach to housing, which is mainstreamed in local housing provision in Denmark, is gathering interest in Scotland. Amendment 445 and its consequential amendment 447 seek to support that enthusiasm and positive potential by creating a basis from which co-housing can be scaled up.

Co-housing has a lot to offer. For example, it has been shown to prevent social isolation and the poor health outcomes that go with it. If we can nurture and grow that model, we can move to a happier, healthier society in which people’s housing needs are met, people have a real stake in the places they live in and neighbourhoods become vibrant, all of which can reduce the strain on public services.

When we have spoken about co-housing, the Minister for Housing has been enthusiastic about the possibilities that the model offers. There was Scottish Government-led work on co-housing in previous parliamentary sessions but, unfortunately, it was not prioritised. My amendment, which is backed by Cohousing Scotland, aims to ensure that that work is taken forward. It would require ministers to consult on and produce guidance for co-housing, which would allow the sector to grow.

I am keen to hear what assurances the cabinet secretary can provide to ensure that stakeholders will be supported by the Government to do the work that is necessary to develop a Scottish co-housing model, so that a co-housing sector can emerge in Scotland in the next few years.

Amendment 554 and its consequential amendment 562 would create a housing co-operative advisory function. Along with the financial barriers of land and buildings transaction tax and the additional dwelling supplement, which I spoke about at a previous stage 2 meeting, another barrier that housing co-operatives in Scotland face is a lack of access to official advice. I have been working on that with the Edinburgh Student Housing Co-Operative, which supports students to access affordable, quality accommodation in a location that has become unaffordable for many. When it has sought support on tax and governance issues, it has been passed around various public bodies and organisations without getting the answers that it needs in order to thrive.

What I propose in amendment 554 and its consequential amendment 562 is the establishment of an advisory function within an existing housing or land-related body. That function would be staffed by one or two full-time individuals and would support existing co-ops with tax and governance issues, as well as helping those who want to set up a housing co-op.

Co-operatives should be a flourishing housing model in Scotland. They bring a wide range of benefits and, where they serve communities of the elderly, they can help councils to save money on social care, while those that provide student accommodation can ensure that people from all economic backgrounds can access higher education in places where accommodation is difficult to find and often unaffordable. Making it easier for such co-ops to be established and to function will help to reduce the financial burden on Government budgets.

During our pre-stage 2 discussions, it was good to hear from the cabinet secretary about her involvement with and appreciation of the co-operative movement. I therefore know that she is sympathetic to the aims of my amendment, which is why I am keen to hear what assurances she can give that the Government will provide more support to housing co-ops before I decide whether to press amendment 445 and to move my other amendments in the group.

I move amendment 445.

There will be a division.

For

Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)

Against

Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

There will be a division.

For

Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

Against

Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

The question is, that amendment 515 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The question is, that amendment 441 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

The question is, that amendment 200 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.

There will be a division.

For

Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con)
Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP)
Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

Abstentions

Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green)

The question is, that amendment 406 be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members: No.