We need more than just affordable homes, builders tell government

Scotland’s home building industry says at least 100,000 homes of all tenures are needed by the end of the next Scottish Parliament in order to tackle the nation’s housing crisis.

Referring to the 50,000 and 60,000 affordable housing targets recently announced by the SNP and Labour respectively, Philip Hogg - chief executive of trade body Homes for Scotland - says politicians of all parties should be aware of the national needs. 

“A continuing focus on publicly subsidised affordable housing targets tells just one part of the story. What about the majority of Scots who still want to own their own home or those who want the flexibility of renting in the private sector?” he asks.

“The fact is that the total number of new homes being built remains 40 per cent down on 2007 levels, exacerbating the housing pressures which particularly affect our young people and growing families. Providing more affordable housing is obviously a key part of addressing the overall chronic undersupply of homes. However, this can only be achieved through an all-tenure approach, particularly given the major direct contribution the private sector makes to affordable housing” according to Hogg.

He says he is calling on the next Scottish Government to manage a return to at least pre-recession levels of building which would mean at least 100,000 new homes by the end of the next parliamentary term based on an annual average growth rate of 10 per cent.  

“We believe this is an ambitious but achievable target and have set out in our manifesto the action which needs to be taken to make it happen.”

Research by Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners shows that if Scottish home building can return to pre-recession delivery rates it will produce major economic benefits, including an additional £443m of capital expenditure, £1.9 billion extra economic output and almost 38,400 extra jobs.