The Rural Housing Service Annual Conference

was held on 23/24 February 2006 The Birnam Institute, Dunkeld, Perthshire

"Rural Housing/Rural Development - Making Connections"

Go here to download conference presentations

Willy Roe, Chairman of Highlands & Islands Enterprise gave the keynote speech at the Rural Housing Service Annual Conference - Rural Housing/Rural Development on February 24th 2006 at The Birnam Institute, Dunkeld. He provided his perspective on the crucial role of housing in sustaining the development and regeneration of our rural communities, and set out Highlands & Islands Enterprise’s strategy to develop the region and the vital role of housing in helping to achieve this.

The role of rural housing in rural regeneration and their links was developed by speakers including Wendy Bullard, Area Network Director, Communities Scotland and Robin Weatherston, Head of Rural Policy, Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department.

As in previous years the core of the conference was the workshops. This year topics included: the water problem and how to resolve it; the role of the private sector in rural housing provision; involving the community; planning gain; common housing registers, the impact of the Homelessness Act and sustainable rural house design.

Presentations from the Conference, where available, will appear below.

Note: Some of these files are very large so may take some time to download. You may find it easier to right click mouse and select "Save Target As..'' to download & save to file rather than opening in your browser.

Willy Roe

Sarah Jane Laing & Frank Lewis Bowen

Stuart Robertson -

Peter MacDonald - Sustainable Rural Housing Design (27MB)

Gokay Deveci -

Martin Pollhammer

Helen Barton - The Homelessness Act (220KB)

Alastair Cameron - The Homelessness Act (52KB)

Alan Thomson -

Wendy Bullard - Rural Development/Rural Housing (44MB)

Robin Weatherston - SEERAD (116KB)

Neil Ferguson - Rural Group, Scottish Enterprise (852KB)

January 2006 -

Community Bursaries available for the Rural Housing Service Conference Friday 24 February 2006 at The Birnam Institute
Thanks to a grant from Communities Scotland, representatives from rural community groups interested in attending the Rural Housing Service Annual Conference will be able to apply for bursaries to cover their

travel and subsistence costs.
The grant from the "Seeing is Believing Fund" will enable community representatives from rural communities to share their experience of rural housing issues and discuss with other delegates practical solutions to local housing problems. Representatives from remote communities will be given priority for the bursaries. To apply please fill in a Conference Booking Form and mark it clearly that you would like to apply for a bursary.

Don't forget to tick the box relevant to your organisation.

The Rural Housing Service Annual Conference takes place on Friday 24th February at The Birnam Institute in Dunkeld. The keynote speakers include Willy Roe, Chief Executive of Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Wendy Bullard, Area Network Director, Communities Scotland and Robin Weatherston, Head of Rural Policy, Scottish Executive Rural Affairs. Workshops will examine the role of the private sector, planning gain, sustainable rural design, homelessness, rural allocations, water and community involvement.

NEWS FROM 2005:

November 2005 - The Rural Housing Service has recruited a Development Worker to expand its work

with rural communities in the Argyll Islands.
Clare Jones, who is based in Tiree, will support the island communities of Argyll to develop new housing solutions, helping to increase affordable housing opportunities and to enable community participation in housing and regeneration initiatives. Clare will carry out a variety of roles such as undertaking housing needs surveys

and feasibility studies, providing advice and information on housing options including promoting Rural Home Ownership Grants, finding funding and land for community housing projects; and supporting communities to

work in partnership with housing agencies to achieve solutions to island housing needs.
The post is funded by a grant from the Nationwide Foundation.
Raymond Young, Convener of the Rural Housing Service said: “This appointment marks an important expansion of the support the Rural Housing Service provides to rural communities- doubling our Development staff.

Affordable housing is a crucial issue for the communities on Mull, Tiree, Iona, Colonsay and the other Argyll Islands, this post will help increase affordable housing in these communities.”


	LATEST NEWS: November 2007 - We are now planning our Rural Housing Service Annual Conference for 29 February 2008 One Giant Leap - delivering affordable rural housing The Birnam Institute, By Dunkeld, Perthshire The Minister for Communities and Sport, Stewart Maxwell MSP will give the keynote speech at the Rural Housing Service Conference on the 29th February 2008. More information here. February 2007 - The Rural Housing Service Annual Conference took place on the 22 & 23rd February 2007 at The Birnam Institute, Dunkeld. December 2006 - Preparations are underway for the Rural Housing Service Annual Conference 2007. May 2006 - Recruitment - Elaine Blane was appointed Aberdeenshire Rural Housing Enabler, and started in May 2006. Elaine has been employed as a Rural Housing Enabler to work with selected rural communities to identify housing need in the Aberdeenshire area and to investigate through a unique partnership with the local community, landowners, RSL’s, Aberdeenshire Council, Cairngorms Park Authority, Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA) and feasible projects to meet the needs identified. February 2006 - The Rural Housing Service Annual Conference was held on 23/24 February 2006 The Birnam Institute, Dunkeld, Perthshire "Rural Housing/Rural Development - Making Connections" sponsored by Go here to download conference presentations Willy Roe, Chairman of Highlands & Islands Enterprise gave the keynote speech at the Rural Housing Service Annual Conference - Rural Housing/Rural Development on February 24th 2006 at The Birnam Institute, Dunkeld. He provided his perspective on the crucial role of housing in sustaining the development and regeneration of our rural communities, and set out Highlands & Islands Enterprise’s strategy to develop the region and the vital role of housing in helping to achieve this. The role of rural housing in rural regeneration and their links was developed by speakers including Wendy Bullard, Area Network Director, Communities Scotland and Robin Weatherston, Head of Rural Policy, Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department. As in previous years the core of the conference was the workshops. This year topics included: the water problem and how to resolve it; the role of the private sector in rural housing provision; involving the community; planning gain; common housing registers, the impact of the Homelessness Act and sustainable rural house design. Presentations from the Conference, where available, will appear below. Note: Some of these files are very large so may take some time to download. You may find it easier to right click mouse and select "Save Target As..'' to download & save to file rather than opening in your browser. Willy Roe Sarah Jane Laing & Frank Lewis Bowen Stuart Robertson - Peter MacDonald - Sustainable Rural Housing Design (27MB) Gokay Deveci - Martin Pollhammer Helen Barton - The Homelessness Act (220KB) Alastair Cameron - The Homelessness Act (52KB) Alan Thomson - Wendy Bullard - Rural Development/Rural Housing (44MB) Robin Weatherston - SEERAD (116KB) Neil Ferguson - Rural Group, Scottish Enterprise (852KB) January 2006 - Community Bursaries available for the Rural Housing Service Conference Friday 24 February 2006 at The Birnam Institute Thanks to a grant from Communities Scotland, representatives from rural community groups interested in attending the Rural Housing Service Annual Conference will be able to apply for bursaries to cover their travel and subsistence costs. The grant from the "Seeing is Believing Fund" will enable community representatives from rural communities to share their experience of rural housing issues and discuss with other delegates practical solutions to local housing problems. Representatives from remote communities will be given priority for the bursaries. To apply please fill in a Conference Booking Form and mark it clearly that you would like to apply for a bursary. Don't forget to tick the box relevant to your organisation. The Rural Housing Service Annual Conference takes place on Friday 24th February at The Birnam Institute in Dunkeld. The keynote speakers include Willy Roe, Chief Executive of Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Wendy Bullard, Area Network Director, Communities Scotland and Robin Weatherston, Head of Rural Policy, Scottish Executive Rural Affairs. Workshops will examine the role of the private sector, planning gain, sustainable rural design, homelessness, rural allocations, water and community involvement.

	NEWS FROM 2005:
	November 2005 - The Rural Housing Service has recruited a Development Worker to expand its work with rural communities in the Argyll Islands. Clare Jones, who is based in Tiree, will support the island communities of Argyll to develop new housing solutions, helping to increase affordable housing opportunities and to enable community participation in housing and regeneration initiatives. Clare will carry out a variety of roles such as undertaking housing needs surveys and feasibility studies, providing advice and information on housing options including promoting Rural Home Ownership Grants, finding funding and land for community housing projects; and supporting communities to work in partnership with housing agencies to achieve solutions to island housing needs. The post is funded by a grant from the Nationwide Foundation. Raymond Young, Convener of the Rural Housing Service said: “This appointment marks an important expansion of the support the Rural Housing Service provides to rural communities- doubling our Development staff. Affordable housing is a crucial issue for the communities on Mull, Tiree, Iona, Colonsay and the other Argyll Islands, this post will help increase affordable housing in these communities.”