Housing starts have increased by 13% to almost 20,000 in Scotland in the past year, with a 32% rise in social sector housing, according to official statistics released today.
In the year ending in June, 1,520 more social sector houses were started compared to the previous year. However, while this represented a 63% increase by housing associations, local authority starts fell by 26%.
Over the same period, there has been a 7% rise in affordable rent completions, but a 2% decrease in those classed as social rent. Overall housebuilding rose by 2,188 homes to 19,598.
Housing associations started 1,942 more homes than last year, but local authority starts fell by 422 homes. Fifty-nine more affordable rented properties were delivered over the same period, while there were 91 fewer social rent completions.
Scotland’s housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “Making sure everyone has a safe, warm and affordable home is central to this government’s drive for a fairer and more prosperous Scotland.
“I am confident that we will continue to increase affordable housing across Scotland with our ambitious target to deliver 50,000 homes during the lifetime of this parliament, backed by £3bn of investment.”
Commenting on the results, Stephen Profili, managing director of private house builder Lovell Scotland, said the company had made “good progress” this year and “expects to be in a position to increase significantly our delivery of new homes” in 2018.