SCOTLAND’S response to the housing emergency could be strengthened by a major new procurement solution designed to help councils and housing providers accelerate the delivery of high-quality homes and regeneration projects across the country.
The new H3 (housing, regeneration and demolition) framework has opened for applications by the Scottish Procurement Alliance as a comprehensive route to market for organisations seeking to deliver housing, demolition, remediation and wider place-based regeneration projects.
Developed in response to mounting pressures on local authorities and registered social landlords, the solution has been designed to support faster, compliant procurement. It’s particularly relevant at a time when demand for housing remains high and pressure continues to grow on the public sector to increase supply.
H3 marks a significant expansion from its predecessor, broadening the scope from a primarily new build housing framework into a full end-to-end housing delivery and regeneration solution.
A further benefit of the H3 framework enables the public sector to access demolition contractors to make derelict and disused homes and building safe, reduce expenses and clear the land to begin preparation for work.
Lesley Peaty, Regional Director of the Scottish Procurement Alliance, stated that Scotland's housing challenge requires procurement solutions that reflect both the urgency and complexity confronting the sector.
“H3 has been developed to provide our partners with a compliant, flexible and comprehensive route to market that reflects the full housing lifecycle, from preparing sites and remediation through to new build delivery, demolition and estate regeneration.
“By broadening the scope beyond traditional housing development, this solution will help public bodies and social landlords move faster, respond to housing pressures more effectively and deliver projects that support both communities and long-term national priorities.
“It is equally important that the framework helps create wider economic value, which is why we have embedded dedicated opportunities for SMEs to secure places and play a greater role in delivering housing and regeneration outcomes across Scotland in line with the requirements of the Community Wealth Building Act.”
By combining more disciplines within a single framework, H3 is intended to give public sector organisations and housing providers a more streamlined route to delivering complex housing, regeneration and demolition programmes.
Its launch comes as housing providers across Scotland face growing pressure to increase delivery and bring forward regeneration projects that can revitalise communities.
The framework also aligns with wider Scottish Government priorities around addressing the housing emergency, supporting the transition to net zero and unlocking regeneration opportunities across communities.
Importantly, H3 has been structured to help bring forward brownfield and challenging sites by incorporating dedicated remediation and helping to unlock land that may otherwise remain undeveloped.
It is also expected to strengthen opportunities for smaller firms to participate in public sector housing delivery.
Up to three places have been reserved for micro and small enterprises in each of five key lots within the framework, widening access for SMEs and supporting local economic benefit through broader supply chain participation.
The Scottish Procurement Alliance is the largest free-to-join procurement organisation serving Scotland’s public sector, supporting more than 145 organisations with compliant and localised procurement solutions for construction, refurbishment, compliance, consultancy and maintenance projects.
The H3 framework will be available for use by local authorities, housing associations and other public sector bodies seeking a robust procurement route for housing-led development and regeneration activity.