More than 12,000 too few houses will be built in Scotland for each of the next 12-15 years, a new report has found.

Scottish planning consultancy Geddes Consulting found that not enough viable land is being allocated for new-builds, leading to an annual shortfall of 12,358 homes.

The survey examined housing land allocation in Scotland’s four strategic development plans (SDPs).

It found that, according to government guidance on how many allocated sites in each SDP would be viable for development, land has been provided for just 10,000 homes a year.

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This compares unfavourably with the 22,538 houses a year figure sset by the SDPs themselves.

Geddes consultancy director Bob Salter called for the local development plans within SDPs to allocate more housing land.

He said: "The effective land supply doesn't seem to be accurately recorded. As a consequence, the housing shortfall is probably greater than the councils are aware of".

A spokesman for umbrella body the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities told Planning News that councils' proposed allocations are scrutinised "by a wide range of stakeholders prior to adoption by ministers".

(NE)