Number of new build housing starts reach highest level since financial crash

According to the latest figures, the number of new build homes that were started in the year to end September 2019 reached 24,873, a 4,876 (24%) increase on the previous year and the highest number of homes started since 2007.

Private-led starts increased by 4,516 homes (34%), local authority starts increased by 377 homes (22%) and housing association approvals decreased slightly by 17 homes (0.3%). The total number of homes started across both housing associations and local authorities increased by 360 homes (5%).

A total of 9,317 affordable homes were delivered in 2019, an increase of more than 25% since 2016, helping to provide more people with a warm, safe place they can call home.

More than 9,300 affordable homes were provided in 2019, the latest figures show an increase of over 25% since 2016.

The number of completed homes for social rent increased by 16% compared to the previous year.

The statistics also show that in the year to September 2019, more than 21,800 new build homes across all sectors were completed, including those for private sale and for social and affordable rent. The number of new build homes that were started in the same period increased by 24% to 24,873, the highest annual figure since 2007.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “I am proud that we have now delivered over 91,000 affordable homes since 2007, with more than 63,000 for social rent.

“With over 31,000 affordable homes delivered between April 2016 and December 2019, the figures demonstrate that we remain on course to reach our target of 50,000 affordable homes by the end of this parliament. This has been backed by a Scottish Government commitment of more than £3.5 billion to deliver good quality, secure and affordable homes.

“We are delivering more housing for Scotland, which will help support and create jobs, tackle inequality, and create strong, sustainable communities.”

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, added: “These figures show real progress has been made building new affordable and social homes in Scotland.

“In a country where one household loses their home every 17 and a half minutes and more than 130,000 households are on waiting lists this can only be good news.

“What we need to see now is a new long-term commitment to build social housing past the end of this parliament. It is the only way we can fix our housing emergency and meet our targets on critical issues like child poverty and climate change.”