Local Housing Strategy guidance 2026: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment Template

Introduction

1. Brief Summary

Section 89 of the Housing Scotland Act 2001 places a statutory duty on every local authority to prepare and submit a Local Housing Strategy (LHS) to Scottish Ministers.

Type of Proposal: Decision of a strategic nature relating to the rights and wellbeing of children (this CRWIA is focussed on focus on the parameters of the changes introduced in Local Housing Strategy Guidance compared to previous guidance published in September 2019).

Name the proposal and describe its overall aims and intended purpose.

A Local Housing Strategy (LHS) is an important corporate document setting out each local authority’s strategic vision for the delivery of housing across all tenures and housing related services over a 5-year period and beyond. It enables local authorities to set out the contribution that housing makes to improving health and wellbeing, creating connected and sustainable places, reducing climate change, supporting economic growth and reducing child poverty.

Guidance to support local authorities with the development of a LHS was published in September 2019 and the refreshed guidance will reflect changes that have been introduced in a range of policy areas since then. Therefore, this CRWIA links to the refreshed guidance, and any changes made through this refresh. The impacts of the original guidance published in 2019 are outside the scope of this assessment.

The aim of the LHS guidance is to support local authorities with the development of a LHS and for this to be developed working collaboratively with local communities and stakeholders, be evidence-based, including findings from the Housing Need and Demand Assessment, as well as any other local evidence gathered; and for there to be links to Scottish Government national priorities, plans and targets as well as local priorities and plans that can contribute to the delivery of the following National Outcomes:

• we live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe
• we tackle poverty by sharing opportunities, wealth and power more equally
• we have a globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable economy
• we respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination
• we grow up loved, safe and respected so we realise our full potential
• we value, protect and enhance our environment
• we are healthy and active

Start date of proposal’s development: The development of the refreshed guidance commenced on 17 July 2024

Start date of the CRWIA: 19 August 2024

2. With reference given to the requirements of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which aspects of the proposal are relevant to children’s rights?

Section 89 of the Housing Scotland Act 2001 places a statutory duty on every local authority to prepare and submit a LHS to Scottish Ministers.

While there is no legal requirement under the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 for local authorities to prepare and publish a CRWIA, equalities is central to the development of a LHS, as such the LHS guidance includes a strong focus on them, requiring local authorities to prepare a CRWIA alongside the development of an EQIA to help inform the development of a LHS.

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (‘the 2001 Act’) places a statutory requirement on local authorities to produce a LHS that sets out its strategy, priorities and plans for the delivery of housing and related services. The 2001 Act states that a LHS must be supported by an assessment of housing provision including the need and demand for housing and related services, that it must be submitted to Scottish Ministers, and that local authorities must keep their LHS under review.

The refreshed LHS guidance includes a strong focus on consultation and engagement and encourages local authorities to engage with children and young people given the long-term impacts of housing and housing-related services.

The LHS guidance itself has no impact on children’s rights as it is the responsibility of local authorities to prepare a LHS. A local authority is encouraged to follow the guidance and the Scottish Government provides feedback on draft LHSs which are submitted to the Scottish Government for review and to provide feedback on the content. Therefore, the priorities and outcomes included in a local authority’s LHS and the impacts of which are outside the scope of what this guidance does in practice. Therefore, impacts resulting from priorities and outcomes in a LHS cannot be attributed to what this guidance does, nor can we predict what those impacts will be from this guidance alone.

3. Please provide a summary of the evidence gathered which will be used to inform your decision-making and the content of the proposal. (Guidance Section 2.3.2, pages 13-16)

Not Applicable

4. Further to the evidence described at ‘3’ have you identified any 'gaps' in evidence which may prevent determination of impact? If yes, please provide an explanation of how they will be addressed (Guidance Section 2.3.2, page 16).

Not Applicable

5. Analysis of Evidence (Guidance Section 2.3.2, page 17).

Not Applicable

6. What changes (if any) have been made to the proposal as a result of this assessment? (Guidance Section 2.3.2, page 17)

Not Applicable

Conclusion

7. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all UNCRC requirements, what is the potential overall impact of this proposal on children’s rights? (Guidance Section 2.3.2, page 17):

No impact.

If you have answered no impact to question 7, please move onto question 10.

8. If you have identified a positive impact on children’s rights, please describe below how the proposal will protect, respect, and fulfil children’s rights in Scotland. (Guidance Section 2.3.2, page 18).

Not Applicable

9. If a negative impact has been identified please describe below. Is there a risk this could potentially amount to an incompatibility? (Guidance Section 2.3.2, pages 18-19).

Not Applicable

Mitigation Record

What options have been considered to modify the proposal in order to mitigate negative impact or potential incompatibility issues?

Not Applicable

10. As a result of the evidence gathered and analysed against all wellbeing indicators, will the proposal contribute to the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland? (Guidance Section 2.3.2, pages 20-22).

Safe: Not Applicable

Healthy: Not Applicable

Achieving: Not Applicable

Nurtured: Not Applicable

Active: Not Applicable

Respected: Not Applicable

Responsible: Not Applicable

Included: Not Applicable

If yes, please provide and explanation below:

11. How will you communicate to children and young people the impact that the proposal will have on their rights? (Guidance Section 2.3.2, page 22)

This CRWIA is published on the Scottish Government website to make it available for those wishing to access it. Additionally, where possible, the CRWIA has been written in an accessible way so those reading it can understand its content and the no impact assessment.

Post Assessment Review and sign-off

12. Planning for the review of impact on children’s rights and wellbeing (Guidance Section 2.3.2, pages 22).

As part of the decision-making process, plans for reviewing the impact on children’s rights and wellbeing need to be developed.

How will the impact of the proposal on children’s rights and wellbeing be monitored?

The Scottish Government has a robust review process in place to support continuous improvement for LHSs prepared by local authorities. Scottish Government officials and local authority peer support undertake a review of a draft LHS. Under the review process, the Scottish Government providing constructive written feedback each local authority on the content of an LHS that highlights where the strengths are as well as areas for improvement are. Each local authority is asked to respond to the areas for improvement by providing details of how these will be addressed.

When will you review and update the CRWIA if required?

The CRWIA will be reviewed and updated in the event of any future refresh of the LHS guidance.

Sign off

Policy Lead Signature & Date of Sign Off:

Lisa Bullen 12 February 2026

Deputy Director Signature & Date of Sign Off:

Will Tyler-Greig 12 February 2026

Date CRWIA team first contacted: 4 February 2025