Dumfries and Galloway Council has been shortlisted in the 2025 Municipal Journal Awards for its innovative approach to tackling the housing emergency in the region.
Selected as one of just six finalists in these UK-wide awards, officers from across the council will now present their ‘One Council + Communities + Partners x Creativity = Better Housing’ approach to a judging panel later this month.
Although the council has no housing stock, housing is a key issue in its Council Plan.
Since the council declared a Housing Emergency in 2024, all council directorates have increased efforts to develop ideas, solutions and build on positive approaches to housing, across all tenures – private, social and community.
Judges recognised the council’s approach as ‘unique’, with the submission highlighting its work ono community regeneration masterplanning.
The judges particularly highlighted the council’s Lochside Dumfries Community Asset Transfer with four properties transferred into community ownership resulting in community-led affordable housing; and our approach to Ukrainian Resettlement seeing empty properties brought up to standard to make new homes for these New Scots.
Councillor Gail Macgregor, Leader of the Council said:
“I’m delighted that the work across our council and within communities has been recognised at UK level – to be one of just five finalists in this category demonstrates how committed our council is to working with partners and communities, and that with a little bit of creativity we are tackling our housing emergency. My congratulations go to everyone involved and I wish them well for the final.
“This could not have been achieved without genuine partnership working between our council and our strategic partners, and importantly with community-based organisations that have worked tirelessly to develop new housing within their communities.
“Our region is stronger and better because of our partnership approach to enabling communities to achieve their great ideas. Although we do of course hope the entry will win overall, to have reached this stage is a tremendous achievement in itself.”
1. The council’s Housing Emergency Action was agreed in 27 June 2024. The Action Plan to tackle it was agreed by Full Council on 25 March 2025 (available here under “Item 10”)
2. The council teams involved in the entry include Community Planning and Engagement, Economic Regeneration, Social Work and Strategic Housing.
3. The judging event takes place online on 25 April 2025.The judges are:
o Ajman Ali, Executive Director for Neighbourhoods, Sheffield City Council.
o Joanne Drew, Strategic Director of Housing, London Borough of Enfield.
o Tim Farr, Senior Partner, Starfish.
o Tim Johnson, Chief Executive, City of Wolverhampton Council.
The winner will be announced on 20 June 2025.
4. The other finalists are:
• Gravesham Borough Council.
• London Borough of Haringey.
• Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
• Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils.
• Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
