New figures have revealed the number of new house builds which have started across Scotland has risen since last year.

According to official statistics, the amount of housing projects started during 2015/16 increased 4% to 16,910, the highest number of starts since 2008/09.

In addition, the number of affordable homes approved has risen 26% compared to 2015, bringing the total number of approvals to 8,067.

Right to Buy applications also rose by 40% to 5,006, while 2,088 sales were made under the scheme, an increase of 14% compared to 2015.

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Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said the figures will help the Scottish Government progress with its pledge to deliver 50,000 'affordable' homes over the next five years.

Speaking ahead of a visit to a 236-unit housing development in Edinburgh, Minister Stewart said: "We have an excellent track record on housing. The number of affordable home completions from April 2007 to end March 2016 was 60,704 – on average 24% more per year than the 38,015 delivered between April 2000 and March 2007.

"In the previous session of Parliament, we exceeded our target of delivering 30,000 affordable homes, and our bold and ambitious More Homes Scotland approach will build on that achievement.

"We have committed to investing over £3 billion to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes over the next five years. This is accompanied by increased housing subsidy levels and a new Rural Housing Fund to boost the supply of affordable rural housing."

(LM/CD)