Scottish Housing Completions Fall

30th August 2013

Scotland mired in housing crisis say builders as completions fall by 25 per cent and starts slump to lowest on record.

Responding to official statistics for the latest quarter showing that housing completions across all sectors fell by 25 per cent and that starts had slumped to their lowest figure on record1, the trade body representing the Scottish home building industry said it was extremely disappointed but not surprised by the news.

Homes for Scotland Chief Executive Philip Hogg (right) said:“Today’s figures reinforce the fact that Scotland is mired in a housing crisis. Less than 14,000 new homes were built in 2012-13 yet our population is at a record level and households are growing by more than 21,000 a year.

“It is estimated that 465,000 new homes are needed in Scotland by 2035 to meet demand. However, the build rate announced today points to a shortfall of around 160,000 by this time. With this equal to the number of people currently already on housing waiting lists, such an outcome would have severe long-term social and economic consequences.

“Whilst the property market in England may appear to have turned a corner as a result of government policies, this is clearly not the case north of the border where much still needs to be done.

“In particular, we need to see the Scottish Government’s promised £120m shared equity scheme launched as soon as possible and proposals to increase regulation and cost which threaten to further depress housing supply be reconsidered.

“If such action is not forthcoming, the cautious optimism which was apparent in the first half of the year could easily disappear with investment channelled elsewhere."

Homes for Scotland represents the country’s private home building industry - an industry which, prior to the onset of the credit crunch, was the largest source of private investment in the Scottish economy, contributing around £6bn and directly impacting the employment of 100,000 people in 2006.

For data on latest housing see the following links -
1. Scottish Government housing statistics:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS

2. National Records of Scotland:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/population/estimates/mid-year/2012/index.html

3. National Records of Scotland
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files2/stats/household-projections/2010-based/2010-based-household-proj-publication.pdf

4. Scottish Government press release:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2013/05/pension-funds

5. Shelter Scotland website:
http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_policy/key_statistics/the_facts_about_scotlands_housing