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New homes and housing · Dumfries & Galloway

Council and Housing Partnerships in Dumfries

How can councils and housing associations partner with us in Dumfries?

If you are a council or housing association looking for new homes in Dumfries, there are several ways to work with Land to Homes. We can sell you completed homes on a site we control, bring forward land for a scheme you will own, build on your land under a design and build contract, or deliver the affordable homes a planning agreement requires.

Newly completed terrace of two-storey affordable homes with small front gardensDumfries · DG1

Talk to us about a partnership

Tell us about your organisation and the homes you need.

Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.

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Registering for homes in Dumfries

Our Dumfries & Galloway coverage is centred on Dumfries, postcode district DG1, and reaches 2 other places. The nearest other places we cover are Annan (15 miles), Hawick (41 miles) and Peebles (43 miles).

When you register for Dumfries, you can choose larger family homes, homes for first-time buyers or homes for private rent. As Dumfries is in Scotland, applications are judged against National Planning Framework 4, and the buyer of land pays Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

Tell us what you need in Dumfries and we will be in touch if homes are released nearby.

What you get in Dumfries

Council land disposals

We respond to council land disposals and development opportunities where the terms suit, following the process the council sets.

Funding conditions in mind

We plan schemes around the conditions of the relevant funding programme, although grant is applied for and held by the council or provider.

Land-led schemes

We bring forward land for a scheme the provider will own, which can be fully affordable where planning policy and funding allow.

Standards agreed up front

Provider design standards, space standards and energy targets are agreed at the start, so the homes are ready to transfer on completion.

How the rules work in Dumfries

Affordable homes in Dumfries are mainly funded through the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme, with councils and registered social landlords building them. Councils set local investment priorities in their Strategic Housing Investment Plans. On private developments, Local Development Plans often require an affordable housing contribution, secured through a Section 75 agreement. Land to Homes can bring forward land and deliver homes for councils and housing associations.

In Scotland, councils and registered social landlords regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator deliver affordable homes through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, prioritised in each council's Strategic Housing Investment Plan. Developer contributions are secured through Section 75 agreements, and package deals for social and mid-market rent homes are one established route.

Key rules in Dumfries
National planning policyNational Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which forms part of the statutory development plan
Local planning documentLocal Development Plan (LDP)
Who decides applicationsThe council as planning authority (or a national park authority in its area)
Land registrationRegisters of Scotland (Land Register of Scotland)

Your questions answered for Dumfries

Who applies for grant funding for affordable homes?

Usually the housing association or council, because public grant for affordable housing is normally paid to them under programmes run by Homes England, the Greater London Authority, the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government or, in Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive's Social Housing Development Programme. We plan schemes with the relevant funding conditions in mind.

What are Section 106 affordable homes?

They are affordable homes a developer must provide under a Section 106 agreement attached to a planning permission in England or Wales. The agreement sets the number, tenure and often the transfer terms, and the homes are usually sold to a registered provider. Scotland uses Section 75 agreements and Northern Ireland uses Section 76 agreements for similar purposes.

What is a land-led scheme?

A land-led scheme is one where land is secured and a scheme is planned around a provider's needs, rather than the provider buying a share of homes within a market-led development. It can allow a higher proportion of affordable homes, or a fully affordable scheme, where planning policy and funding support it.

Can you build on land a council or housing association already owns?

Yes. Under a design and build arrangement, we design and construct homes on land the council or provider owns, to its specification and standards. Contracts follow the client's procurement rules, which may mean a framework, a tender or another compliant route. We discuss the approach early so the scheme fits the client's governance.

Are there new homes available in Dumfries now?

Not yet. Land to Homes has no homes available in Dumfries at the moment. You can register your interest for Dumfries, and we will contact you if we bring homes forward there or nearby.

Read more: Council and Housing Association Partnerships · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK

Council and Housing Partnerships elsewhere in Dumfries & Galloway

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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