Martin Armstrong: Glasgow's big landlord wants a say in debate

The answer is, of course, that Glasgow Housing Association – as Scotland's largest social landlord – is keen to be part of the debate, and to influence, how we tackle the social and economic challenges facing this country.

Those challenges are acute within the housing sector, with many professionals and commentators fearing we are one step away from crisis. How we address the impact and implications of welfare reforms, public-sector cuts, lack of options for first-time buyers and the near absence of an affordable housing programme will require fresh ideas and, possibly, radical solutions.

The timing of The Scotsman's conference, as the new Scottish Government sets out its political and policy priorities for the next five years, is perfect. It will be interesting to discover how innovative, how daring, how radical the various speakers are prepared to be in putting forward their ideas and solutions.

GHA itself was born from a radical approach to solving the horrendous condition of Glasgow's social housing stock at the end of the 20th century.

The transfer of 84,000 homes to GHA in 2003 was a radical solution. In voting for transfer, Glasgow's tenants voted for a 1.2 billion investment programme in their homes – the biggest of its kind in Europe – and much greater empowerment and control over the decisions affecting their housing and their communities. Today, almost 70,000 homes across the city are warmer, drier and – in every sense – better.

If it does anything, The Scotsman's latest conference must test how ambitious, how courageous and how radical we need to be – in the face of considerable adversity – to meet and overcome the massive challenges facing Scotland's communities today.

• Martin Armstrong is chief executive of Glasgow Housing Association

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