By Jim McIntyre, Managing Director, CALA Homes West

SCOTLAND is in the grip of a housing crisis and it is not just affordable homes that are in short supply. Scottish Government housing figures published this week show that just 251 more homes – equivalent to one per cent – were built in 2016-2017 compared with the previous year

While the report found there had been a four per cent rise in the number of new homes started in 2016-2017, the number started in the same period by the private sector, the biggest contributor to housing supply in Scotland, was down by nine per cent from 2015-2016.

The lack of availability of new homes is putting pressure on house prices and private rents in our cities. According to a report by property consultants JLL, house prices are expected to grow by 10.9 per cent across Scotland over the next five years. In Glasgow, however, prices are anticipated to rise by 15.4 per cent over the same period – more than 50 per cent above the Scottish average increase.

At Jordanhill Campus, formerly part of the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow has an opportunity to provide new high-quality housing that will significantly improve housing supply in the city.

Unsurprisingly, we’re extremely proud of our plans, which will conserve the site’s Category B-listed David Stow building and scenic greenspace.

More than 40 per cent of the proposed development will be given over to parkland, playing fields and children’s play areas. Public access will be created and people will be encouraged to use paths to walk and cycle, getting them out of their cars. Playing fields at the site will be managed by Glasgow Life and made available to local schools.

We believe our proposals also support Glasgow’s wider economic strategy. With the £1 billion City Deal having a positive impact, Glasgow has plans to create 50,000 jobs and 1,000 new businesses by 2023 through a combination of initiatives, from boosting tourist numbers from two to three million to developing two new innovation districts.

The first at the Merchant City is based on the University of Strathclyde, its Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC) and the city council’s Tontine business accelerator. The other is in the west end, anchored around the campus expansion of the University of Glasgow. Together, these innovation districts aim to bring businesses, academia and government together to focus on business opportunities in enabling technologies, digital health, life sciences and engineering.

It’s great news for the city and will support high value jobs as well as make Glasgow an attractive location for the world’s top researchers and innovative companies.

But where will all this new talent live? We think Jordanhill Campus is the ideal location to attract and retain this talent and its associated tax base in the city. Independent research carried out as part of our planning application suggests that the site would attract more than 1,000 residents and, annually, would raise an extra £1.3 million in council tax for the city.

The decision over the future of Jordanhill Campus is an important one for the local community and wider city. Without high-quality residential development opportunities, the city risks losing talented people to other parts of the UK. Glasgow and its city fathers have always been open for business; creating high quality residential developments in the city can make a major contribution to its competitiveness. We and other housebuilders are committed to working with the city council to deliver the homes the city requires to Let Glasgow Flourish.