The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland has said the latest housing figures released by the Scottish Government show the challenge that lies ahead.

CIH Scotland added that the challenge faced councils, housing associations and the Scottish Government in getting the current Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) running.

Official figures revealed that for the first three quarters of 2012-13, less than half the number of social sector homes were started in Scotland, compared with the same period for the previous two years.

In the nine months to December 2012, a total of 1,224 social sector homes were started. This compares with 2,776 homes in the same period for 2010-11 and 2,760 homes in 2009-10.

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David Bookbinder, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at CIH Scotland, said: "The figures aren't a major surprise because we know that the period in question coincided with the introduction of a new system for managing the Affordable Housing Supply Programme."

Mr Bookbinder added that despite the lengthened discussions regarding the programme and further funding, the AHSP needed to "catch up".

He said: "The Scottish Government’s intention is that homes planned for the current three year programme have to be started and completed by March 2015. For those involved, it will be an intensive period of new development and we look forward to seeing this activity reflected in future figures on new housing starts."

Other industry bodies have responded to the newest Scottish Government statistics, with Homes For Scotland Chief Executive, Philip Hogg, describing the figures as "encouraging".

Mr Hogg added: "Any positive news is clearly welcome but the situation remains, as the Housing Minister herself correctly recognizes, very challenging.

"This is demonstrated by the fact that completions, which remain the ultimate measure of production, have actually fallen over the period in question."

(JP)