DUMFRIES and Galloway Council say they are ‘fully committed’ to meeting the housing needs of the region.
Following on from last week’s South Scotland Housing Prospectus launch, the local authority have told of what they are doing to help solve the issues.
Work includes making improvement to the planning system and actions to regenerate vacant and derelict sites
Housing is one of three ‘Grand Challenges’ agreed by the Regional Economic Partnership, which is chaired on a shared basis by Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Border Council.
The initial development of a South of Scotland Housing Action Plan was agreed by the two councils and SOSE at the Convention of South of Scotland in February 2023. The prospectus is a key action for the plan.
A Dumfries and Galloway Council spokesman said: “(The prospectus) aims to dispel some of the myths about the house building sector in the South of Scotland.
“It highlights the increase in council planning services staffing and improvements to application processing times.
“This follows a wholesale review of the development management service which was carried out in recognition of the critical role it plays in support of economic investment in the region.
“The council is also clearly committed to regenerating sites that have had former uses, and is one of only a handful of local authorities to have developed a specific Vacant and Derelict Land and Property Strategy.
“This prioritises the reuse of existing buildings and brownfield land, including for housing developments.
“Successful examples of this approach in Annan alone include turning the listed Longmeadow House into three affordable homes, and building properties on the former Station Yard.
“Furthermore, in recognition of the additional expense that can be incurred when tackling problem sites, the council has put in place an annual £1 million Town Centre Living Fund aimed at providing more homes in and around our high streets. The Former Station Yard was one of the projects supported via this fund.”
The spokesman added: “Dumfries and Galloway Council is fully committed to meeting the housing needs of the region.
“A specific Housing Emergency Action Plan was agreed in March 2025, and prioritises the construction of more affordable and market homes as an objective. This includes continuing our ongoing support for the delivery of the South of Scotland Housing Action Plan.”
