Shelter Scotland is calling on the Scottish government to take urgent action in response to falling housebuilding targets, highlighting a significant drop in both house starts and completions. With affordable housing figures plummeting, the charity stresses that Scotland’s housing crisis will worsen unless decisive steps are taken.
Decline in Housebuilding Progress
Figures released by the Scottish government reveal a troubling trend in Scotland’s housing sector. From 2023 to 2024, there was a 12% decrease in overall housebuilding starts and a 10% decrease in completions. These declines come at a time when Scotland is aiming to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with 70% of these set aside for social rent. The country is facing mounting challenges in meeting these ambitious goals.
Between September 2023 and 2024, only 19,828 homes were completed, while 14,768 new builds were started. Notably, the private sector contributed the bulk of these numbers, with 15,056 completions and 11,697 starts. Meanwhile, the social sector struggled, completing only 4,772 homes and starting just 3,071.
Affordable Housing Supply Programme Shows Mixed Results
The Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) has seen some positive outcomes, but the overall figures indicate a significant slowdown. In the 12 months leading up to September 2024, the programme approved 6,682 homes, started 5,925, and completed 8,413. However, compared to the previous year, the programme saw a 22% drop in completions (2,373 fewer homes) and an 8% decrease in starts (514 fewer homes).
On a brighter note, approvals for new projects increased by 9%, indicating that more homes could be in the pipeline. However, the question remains: can this momentum be maintained, especially when progress on the ground is stalling?
Shelter Scotland’s Call for Urgent Action
Alison Watson, Director of Shelter Scotland, has emphasized the need for immediate and sustained action. According to Watson, the Scottish government must ramp up social housing construction by 40% each month to meet its goal of building 77,000 homes for social rent by 2032. Watson believes that without significantly increasing the pace of social housing development, Scotland’s housing emergency will only deepen.
The director welcomed the Scottish government’s decision to reverse a 24% cut to the social housing budget in the latest budget. However, she stressed that financial commitments must be matched with concrete actions to alleviate the housing crisis. “Building more social homes is the only way to end the housing emergency, and the government knows this,” Watson said.
Addressing the Housing Crisis Through Better Utilization and Faster Planning
Beyond building new homes, Watson urges the government to take steps to make better use of existing housing stock. This includes purchasing properties for rent and implementing measures to expedite the planning and construction processes, particularly in areas most impacted by the housing crisis.
The reality is that with fewer new affordable homes being built, the pressure on Scotland’s housing market continues to grow, leaving thousands without suitable homes.
