Social housing needs in Highlands in a 'perfect storm'

Highland Council said it was addressing the different needs for homes

Highland Council is headed for difficulties in tackling the need for social housing, the former head of the authority's housing committee has said.

Margaret Davidson said welfare reform and the council's plans for temporary housing for homeless people had created a "perfect storm".

Council leader Drew Hendry said the local authority was addressing the needs of different groups of people.

He said temporary housing topped a commitment to build council houses.

Highland Council plans to build 200 one-bedroom homes over the next four years to provide temporary emergency accommodation to people who find themselves unintentionally homeless.

The move aims to reduce the money the authority spends on putting people up in accommodation known as houses of multiple occupation in the centre of Inverness.

But Independent councillor Ms Davidson said the plan could create a perception of queue jumping and upset the thousands on the council's lengthy housing waiting list.

Ms Davidson told BBC Alba: "Whilst it is a good idea there are some real risks in there. We have got a real perfect storm happening with us now.

"We have got welfare reform and that means that the 'bedroom tax' is with us.

"A lot of people who are on the council house waiting list who thought they would get a two bedroom house will get a one bedroom house because that is all they will get the housing benefit for.

"So we have got more people needing more one bedroom houses there, then we are going to be building all these new flats as temporary accommodation and I am concerned about the message this is going to send to the people who have been on that waiting list for years."

Mr Hendry said the plans for temporary emergency accommodation would have no effect on people already on the housing list.

He said: "It does leave us with a better asset at the end of the day, but it doesn't affect the waiting lists.

"It doesn't affect the people looking for accommodation because this is extra build on top of our commitments for council housing and for social housing within Highland."