South of Scotland
Community Housing

Supporting your community development

SOSCH - houses and trees (graphic)

SOSCH provides expert advice and support to community organisations at each vital stage of a community-led housing project, from the very first spark of inspiration through to the completion of homes.

An award winning Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), we work with community organisations in order to appraise localised housing issues and identify solutions within the wider context of community-ownership of land and assets and Land Reform. We support communities to deliver housing as an element of community- led regeneration, both within rural and urban locations and including mixed-use developments.

Our recent project support has included the delivery of Scotland’s first community- owned passive certified homes in Closeburn (winner “Housing and Regeneration”, SURF Awards 2020), Scotland’s “Best Long-term Empty Home Restoration” (Scottish Empty Homes Awards 2021) in Moniaive and the redevelopment of the former Bank of Scotland in Wigtown for community-led housing and business use. Community resilience, sustainability and repopulation are central to our work, helping people to live and work in the South of Scotland.

Become a member to gain full access to our library of resources:

SOSCH - The Grapes, Whithorn, Dumfries & Galloway (photo)

The Grapes, Whithorn, Dumfries & Galloway

Redevelopment of derelict hotel as community-led homes.

Read the full Case Study >

SOSCH - 21 North Main Street, Wigtown - exterior

21 North Main Street, Wigtown – Dumfries & Galloway

Two refurbished community-led homes and bunkhouse in former bank.

Read the full Case Study >

SOSCH - Closeburn and residents

Castle Crescent, Closeburn Dumfries

Scotland’s first community-owned passive certified homes.

Read the full Case Study >

SOSCH - illustration of man and child playing ball near trees

Project Lifecycle

Idea

Housing needs
& demands
assessment

Feasibility

Business
planning

Finance

Allocation &
management

Finished project

Got a potential community housing project in your area?
Get in touch and one of our staff will advise you.

Funders

SHICC logo
National Lottery Community Fund logo
Dumfries & Galloway Council logo
Oak Foundation logo

Updates

Sanquhar Proposed Community Housing – Register of Interest.

SOSCH is working with Sanquhar Enterprise Company to explore the potential for developing affordable housing in partnership with Cunninghame Housing Association on the site at Queen’s Road in Sanquhar. If … Read full story

SOSCH are on the hunt for a new COMMUNITY-LED HOUSING COORDINATOR, covering the entire South of Scotland.

SOSCH is seeking a CLH Coordinator to provide support to the development and delivery of community-led housing projects across the South of Scotland. The post-holder will: For this exciting opportunity, … Read full story

Langholm HNDA report completed on behalf of The Stevenson Trust

SOSCH has completed the Housing Needs and Demand Assessment Report on behalf of The Stevenson Trust. The full report can be read or downloaded here.