At least 50,000 new 'affordable' homes will be built if the SNP is re-elected in the next parliament, according to Scottish First Minister (SFM) Nicola Sturgeon.

Mrs Sturgeon made the announcement during her speech at the SNP conference in Aberdeen on 15 October.

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland director Annie Mauger welcomed the announcement.

"We desperately need to build more new housing to help the growing number of people who are struggling to access a decent home at a price they can afford," she said.

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"Along with Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), we have called on all political parties in Scotland to make building new affordable homes a priority in their manifestos ahead of next year's Holyrood election."

However, Ms Mauger added the industry needs "radical solutions" if it is to tackle Scotland's housing crisis.

She said: "Our research with Shelter Scotland and SFHA has shown that we need to build at least 12,000 affordable homes a year for the next five years – double the level that is currently being delivered."

(LM/CD)