'The best laid plans...'? An assessment of housing association provision in rural Scotland

This article looks critically at the delivery of housing association (HA) rented homes in rural Scotland, questioning whether weaknesses relate to policy weakness or implementation deficits. Following a review of relevant research, the article uses data from a recent evaluation of the Housing Association Grant (HAG) regime in Scotland. It reflects on the status of HA provision, relating it to historical investment patterns. It looks at outputs and investment, assesses these in relation to evidence of need and explores reasons behind the observations. After answering the question posed, the article concludes with reflections on developments in rural HA provision. © The Policy Press, 2006.