Industry body Homes For Scotland (HFS) has renewed calls to extend the Help to Buy (Scotland) shared equity scheme.

The call comes after official statistics revealed a sixth consecutive annual fall in total housing completions.

Commenting on the figures, Philip Hogg, Chief Executive of Homes For Scotland, said: "It is extremely disappointing but not surprising to have it confirmed that output is down yet again at only 14,815 – some 20,000 short of the 35,000 new homes the Scottish Government was aiming for by 2015 in order to meet demand and impact house price inflation. This emphasises the long road we have ahead in ensuring all Scots have access to a warm, sustainable home.

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"The Scottish Government's Help to Buy shared equity scheme (which has generated over 3000 reservations and sales since launch) has had a very positive impact in this regard, providing builders with the degree of certainty they need to begin increasing production and buyers with the confidence to purchase.

"But any rise in output must be carefully nurtured if it is to be sustained."

He continued: "Whilst the recent £40m boost for Help to Buy (Scotland) is welcome, it is imperative that ongoing funding be matched to meet demand and the scheme extended to 2020 in order to ensure investment is not diverted elsewhere within the UK.

"Other major supply-side issues, such as planning, access to finance for vitally important SME home builders and skills and material shortages, also need to be addressed as a matter of urgency if the industry is to deliver the many thousands of new homes required, create jobs and contribute to wider economic recovery."

(JP/IT)