Affordable homes built in Scotland up by 21% year on year

Some 80,000 affordable homes have been built in Scotland 2007, with 8,767 delivered in the 12 months to September 2018, a year on year rise of 21%, official figures show

It means that per head of population, some 50% more affordable homes and more than five times as many social rented properties in Scotland have been provided than in England since 2014.

A breakdown of the figures show that there were 5,079 new build homes completed between April and June 2018, a 9% increase on the same quarter in 2017. This brings the total for the year to end June 2018 to 18,182, up 4% compared to the 17,487 completed in the previous year.

There were 4,697 new build homes started between April 2018 and June 2018, some 6% less than the same quarter in 2017. This brings the total for the year to end June 2018 to 19,303 which is down by 6% compared to the 20,534 homes started in the previous year.

‘Making sure everyone has a safe, warm and affordable home is central to our drive for a fairer and more prosperous Scotland,’ said Housing Minister Kevin Stewart.

‘That is why I am proud that this Government has now delivered more than 80,000 affordable homes since 2007. This is a significant achievement, boosting the supply of affordable homes in communities right across the country,’ he explained.

‘During the course of this Parliament we are investing more than £3 billion to deliver our target of at least 50,000 affordable, high quality homes, including 35,000 homes for social rent,’ he pointed out.

‘While we know this is an ambitious target, we have shown we can deliver on housing and we will continue to do so,’ he added.

The 4% increase in all sector new build completions in the 12 months to end June 2018 included a 25% increase in housing association completions and a 25% rise in local authority completions, whilst private-led completions fell by 229 homes or 2%.

Private led starts fell by 1,593 homes or 11% and housing association approvals decreased by 215 homes or 4%, whilst local authority starts increased by 577 homes or 48%. The total number of social sector starts, that is housing association and local authority starts combined, increased by 362 homes or 6%.