Homes for Scotland's (HfS) Chief Executive Nicola Barclay has revealed an action plan for tackling the country's housing crisis.

It is understood there are currently 160,000 people on a housing waiting list, while many other are struggling to access the home of their choice.

However, Ms Barclay said a "significant programme of all-tenure home building" must be set at the highest level of government.

"A narrow focus on just one type of housing will not meet Scotland’s diverse needs," she said.

"That is why we have called for a return to pre-recession levels of construction of around 25,000 new homes per annum."

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Ms Barclay said that while the target is challenging, HfS "firmly believes" it can be achieved by the end of the next Scottish Parliament through public and private sector cooperation.

"But the success of this objective hinges on a number of factors, not least the importance of having a planning system which facilitates development and helps our members step up the production of much needed homes," she said.

"There also needs to be a focus on the delivery of and funding mechanisms for supporting infrastructure such as transport links, school capacity and fibre-optic broadband.

"By working in partnership with local authorities and other key agencies/stakeholders to deliver the many thousands of homes that our country requires will help to ensure the future vitality and sustainability of local communities and also allow them to reap the rewards from the significant economic benefits which result.

"This will clearly take bold and decisive action as well as major investment but the social cost of not increasing production of homes of all types will be significantly higher."

(LM)