AN ambitious new billion-pound five-year plan to deal with Glasgow’s housing emergency has been drawn up by the council.

It involves more than 7000 new homes from housing associations mostly for social rent and hundreds bought over by social landlords.

Glasgow City Council declared a housing emergency last year amid rising homelessness and a shortage of available homes.

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It said the city faces a “perfect storm” of rising costs, increased demand and a reduced budget.

The grant needed from the Scottish Government to deliver the programme is £1.139 billion.

The city had its allocation for housing this year cut by the Scottish Government.

It was due to receive £104m but a nationwide cut of almost £200 million to the national budget meant Glasgow’s share was reduced to £78.6m before being revised upwards to £90.2m.

The council has noted the cut will mean the number and scale of projects that can be approved will be reduced.

A report to the council stated: “This will result in a lower number of housing starts and completions in future years.”

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The cash includes £11m for RSLs to purchase properties to provide more temporary accommodation.

Part of the Strategic Housing Investment Programme is to provide more larger homes for bigger families and more homes that are wheelchair accessible.

Ruairi Kelly, Convener for Housing, Development, and Land Use, said: “The Housing Emergency is one of the biggest pressures our city faces and building more affordable homes is an absolute priority now and in the years ahead.

“The SHIP reflects the reality of the perfect storm of rising costs, rising demands, budget pressures and changing demographics.

“But it is also realistic about what can be achieved in Glasgow and the difference thousands of new homes would make to our citizens.”

The council recognised the need to work with social landlords and said it needs to identify investment opportunities.

Kelly added: “We’ve strong partnerships with social landlords and right across the sector to meet all of our housing needs, including innovative approaches from acquiring existing properties to repurposing vacant office space.

“We’re committed to working with colleagues in Government to unlock the investment, deliver on our potential and meet the needs of our city.”

He recognised meeting the targets would be difficult and building costs had rocketed by around 50% in recent years.

The council estimates it will receive £451.1m from the Scottish Government for housing over the next five years.