A Place with Housing for All

A Place with Housing for All

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Ensuring that everyone—students, young families, and older residents—has a place to call home.

St Andrews is a wonderful place to live, but for many, particularly young families, key workers, and students, finding an affordable home is a real challenge. The prevalence of second homes, short-term holiday lets, and the high number of student rentals have driven up property prices, making it difficult for locals to stay in the town. Housing was the biggest concern raised in the community consultation, with many people feeling that new developments cater more to wealthier retirees or investors rather than the needs of local people.

To tackle this issue, the plan proposes commissioning a Housing Needs and Demand Analysis, which will assess current and future requirements and explore viable locations for affordable housing. A short-term let control zone will be pursued to reduce the dominance of holiday accommodation and fewer HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) will be encouraged in the town centre to rebalance the housing mix.

The plan also advocates for rent controls, should they be permitted by the Scottish Government, and new small-scale social and affordable housing developments targeted at young families and key workers. Another innovative idea is to explore a co-living scheme where students and retirees share accommodation, offering both financial and social benefits.

Suggested Images:

• A happy young family outside their new affordable home
• A modern, energy-efficient housing development
• A lively co-living space with students and retirees sharing experiences
• A street where traditional homes blend with sustainable new builds
• A community meeting discussing future housing developments