The Scottish Government have been urged by housing organizations to use some of their newly acquired funding of £67.5million for house building.

The extra £67.5million was award by the Treasury as a Barnet consequential of the UK government paying for a council tax freeze in England.

A joint statement from Director of CIH Scotland, Alan Ferguson, CEO of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Dr Mary Taylor, and Director of Shelter Scotland, Graeme Brown.

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They said: "This £67.5million of additional money from the Treasury provides the perfect opportunity for the Scottish Government to build on its plan 'MacB' to move more money into capital projects to stimulate the economy.

"As these funds are only for one year, John Swinney should look to the housing sector - which has already shown capacity to deliver - to ensure the money maximises public benefit in the short and long term.

"This is why we are calling on Ministers to reopen their housing innovation programme for a further tranche of funding so that shovel-ready projects can get going now, providing more jobs and more homes."

(JG/BMcC)