The number of new build starts in Scotland fell by 6.0% in the past 12 months, research from broker DJ Alexander has found.
New build starts between 2023/24 and 2024/25 fell by 1,004 (-6.0%) from 16,608 to 15,604 which is the lowest 12-month figure since 2012/13.
These numbers are 3,864 and 5,351 lower respectively than the pandemic years of 2020/21 and 2021/22.
David Alexander, the chief executive officer of DJ Alexander Scotland, said: “While the announcement by First Minister John Swinney of the new housing agency More Homes Scotland is welcome these figures show just how overdue the establishment of this organisation is with a continued decline in the number of newbuild homes being built.
“Given the current housing emergency this newbuild data is a discouraging picture which will result in a continuation of rising prices and rents, coupled with lengthening housing waiting lists.”
“With private sector housebuilding down 5% on last year and the worst performing period since 2013-14 and social housing the lowest figure in 13 years it is clear that there is some way to go if we are to start to address the enormous levels of demand in the Scottish housing market.”
There is a wide disparity in the volume of new builds by area, with some parts of Scotland barely building and others experiencing a boom.
Edinburgh has the highest number of all sector new builds at 2,334, which is 14.9% of the total.
Glasgow city however only had 440 new build starts, which is just 2.8% of the total and the lowest annual figure ever since this data began being collated in 1996.
Less than 20 years ago in 2006/07 Glasgow had the greatest number of all sector new build starts, at 5,531 (19.1% of the total) in a 12-month period.
Edinburgh and the surrounding areas of Fife, Midlothian, West Lothian and East Lothian, account for 40.5% of all new build starts in Scotland.
