Speaking at a gathering of over a hundred and thirty key figures involved in residential development and its supply chain, the Chief Executive of industry body Homes for Scotland warned that the “jury is still out” on the impact of three important issues which are fundamental to the sector’s recovery.

Addressing the organisation’s Associate Members’ Lunch in Edinburgh, Jonathan Fair said: “Whilst we look forward to the journey to recovery, the ‘jury is still out’ on the impact of three fundamentally important issues – delivering on Planning Reform nationally, ensuring effective land supply is increased locally, and significantly ramping up available commercial finance to allow our member companies to commit to new projects. The industry is ready to tackle these issues head on.

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“It’s now one year on from the implementation of the reformed Planning Act. Sadly, with only a few notable exceptions, it’s impossible to identify discernable improvements in either the service quality, timeliness of decision-making or the much championed “enabling and promotional” role for the Planning discipline that Scottish Government set out to achieve.

“Now of all times we must pump new effective land into the supply system, via Structure and Local development plans, as this is the feed stock of the industry. Worryingly, however, we see exactly the opposite effects being applied in many cases across the country by Local Authorities or Scottish Government-appointed appeal reporters. The current limitations on industry capacity do not mean that the fundamentals of local housing market area need and demand have changed nor can they be legitimately ignored."

Fair’s speech immediately followed on from the latest Homes for Scotland Board meeting where senior industry leaders reflected on recent market conditions and jointly considered the challenges to future recovery within the private new homes market in Scotland.

(GK/KMcA)