An additional £87 million will be invested in affordable and energy efficient homes to support jobs in the construction industry, Housing Minister Keith Brown has announced.

The funding was outlined in the Scottish Parliament today by Finance Secretary John Swinney, and will be split as follows:

£42 million will expand shared equity schemes and the Housing Infrastructure Loan Fund over the spending review period. This also includes £10 million for a new Greener Housing Innovation Scheme aimed at encouraging councils and housing associations to build greener homes using modern, more efficient and, environmentally friendly technology. Also included is around £5m to support connecting fuel poor communities to the gas grid taking up an early proposal made through the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum’s review of Fuel Poverty Strategy.

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An additional £45 million for the Government’s affordable housing budget over the period 2012-13 to 2014-15, which will support affordable housing supply across Scotland.

Welcoming the funding, which is additional capital resources for 2012-2015, Mr Brown said:

"Despite the severe constraints on our budget imposed by the UK Government, the supply of new affordable housing that is energy efficient for householders, has always been a high priority for the Scottish Government.

"This funding package includes a strong focus on enhancing our energy efficiency agenda within housing supply. As a result it will not just boost our economy, but also benefit our environment, help reduce fuel bills and boost Scotland’s world leading efforts to tackle climate change.

"It takes us well past the £610m target that Shelter Scotland and the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland have suggested would be needed to keep on track towards our commitment to build 30,000 affordable homes.

"Today’s announcement demonstrates we are well on track to meet our aim in the life of the Parliament, bringing jobs and growing economies across the whole of Scotland."

(GK)