Local Housing Strategy guidance 2026: equality impact assessment

Background

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 a 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.

The LHS guidance supports local authorities with their statutory requirement to prepare a LHS in each local authority area. A LHS will set out a local authority’s agreed strategic vision and priorities for the future of housing and housing related services over a five-year period and therefore in this regard it affects affect people of all ages, sex and backgrounds, living or with the intention of living in Scotland in future and across all housing tenures.

The LHS guidance is a refresh of guidance previously published in September 2019 and a Local Housing Strategy guidance: equality impact assessment was prepared in relation to this. It reflects current Scottish Government national priorities, plans and targets that have been put in place since then.

The Scottish Government is a member of Scotland Housing Network’s Local Housing Strategy Forum which supports local authorities responsible for strategic planning to meet housing needs. It covers a wide and varied range of topics related to housing policies and strategies including Local Housing Strategies and Strategic Housing Investment Plans. It provides local authorities with an opportunity to highlight specific issues, including Local Housing Strategy guidance and has a strong focus on the sharing of good practice.