New build home completions increased by 4% in the 12 months to June 2016, official figures have revealed.

In the latest Quarterly Housing Statistics for Scotland it was revealed that 15,991 new homes were completed, compared to 15,400 in the previous 12 months.

The Statistics present the latest quarterly information on new builds, affordable housing supply and local authority right to buy applications and sales, as well as annual information on long term empty homes.

There were increases in the number of new build completions over the year to end June 2016 for private-led new builds (up by 537 homes or 5%), housing association new builds (up by 46 homes or 2%), and local authority new builds (up by 8 homes or 1%), when compared to the previous year.

There were a total of 16,450 new build starts over the year to end June 2016, a decrease of 681 homes, or 4%, on the 17,131 starts in the previous year. There were increases in the number of housing association approvals (up by 418 homes or 16%) and local authority starts (up by 334 homes or 26%), whilst private-led new build starts decreased by 1,433 homes (11%), when compared to the previous year.

-- Advertisement --

The latest figures include:

New Build Housing – All Sectors:

• There were 3,973 new build homes completed between April and June 2016; a 4% increase on the same quarter in 2015. This brings the total for the year to end June 2016 to 15,991, up 4% (591 homes) compared to the 15,400 completed in the previous year.

• There were 3,968 new build homes started between April and June 2016; 13% fewer than the same quarter in 2015. This brings the total for the year to end June 2016 to 16,450 which is down by 4% (681 homes) compared to the 17,131 homes started in the previous year.

The latest figures can be read in full on the Scottish Government website.

Trade body, Homes for Scotland, welcomed the figures but said that "much more obviously needs to be done".

Nicola Barclay, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, said: "Whilst this increase in completions is welcome, at less than 600 homes, much more obviously needs to be done in order to effectively tackle Scotland's housing crisis and this will require many thousands of new homes of all tenures.

"Over the period from 2010, annual completion levels have effectively flatlined at an average of around 15,000 and we now see a worrying drop in the total number of homes being started, with alarming disparity between public and private sectors.

"The system therefore remains in need of resuscitation to ensure that the pipeline of new homes coming through is not blocked or delayed by bureaucratic processes.

"This is reflected in comments made by some of our members that it has never been harder to open new sites and get homes out of the ground.

"With the majority of those living here still wanting to own their own home, it is essential that the Scottish Government gets on top of the barriers that are preventing people from achieving this most basic of aspirations and enable our industry to increase the contribution it makes to our country's social and economic wellbeing."

(MH)