Build Scotland Construction Directory
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Share this page
Construction News
14/02/2017

Scotland Leads UK's New Build 'Affordable' Housing Sector

Construction News Image
New figures have revealed more affordable homes are being built in Scotland than the rest of the UK.

According to data from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), 41% of new housing completions in Scotland were 'affordable' in 2015/16, compared with 16% in England.

In addition, 22% of all new homes in Scotland were social sector completions during the same period.

SNP MSP Ruth Maguire said the figures show the Scottish Government is taking "decisive action" to build more houses.

"Since the SNP has been in power, Scotland's affordable sector has been consistently outstripping building activity in the rest of the UK," she said.

"And with the Scottish Government's budget committing £470 million of direct capital investment this year to begin the delivery of 50,000 affordable homes over the course of this parliament backed by £3 billion of funding, it is clear that the SNP remains steadfast in our efforts to keep growing the housing supply across Scotland."

-- Advertisement --
NorthernAsbestosServicesLtd

However, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Scotland said while 'affordable' housing is "undoubtedly critical", more homes in different tenures also need to be built.

Scotland was the only part of the UK to see overall housing completions fall year-on-year in 2015/16 when compared with 2014/15.

Gordon Nelson, Director of FMB Scotland, said this lack of supply is "driving house price inflation and exacerbating affordability problems".

"The Scottish Government has demonstrated a welcome commitment to house building, and it is right to highlight its successes in maintaining a high level of new affordable housing," he said.

"However, this does not overshadow what seems to be a generally stagnating wider market.

"It is vital that the Scottish Government finds a way to stimulate the SME house building sector to increase housing of all tenures. Many of the reforms and changes that smaller developers are calling for would come at little or no extra cost to the taxpayer and could facilitate a resurgence of smaller, locally-based house builders.

"In particular, a renewed focus within the planning system on small scale development, by encouraging local authorities to maximise the use of small sites for delivering new homes, would be an inexpensive way of invigorating the private market and increasing output."

(LM/MH)

Latest Construction News

02/05/2024

Malin Group has secured planning permission in principle for its proposed development of the Scottish Marine Technology Park (SMTP). Malin Group's vision for the site is to deliver a state-of-the-art marine excellence hub which will bring together manufacturers with marine and renewables ...
02/05/2024

Fleming Building has officially broken ground on the development of the multi-million pound Bishopton Dargavel Satellite Facility. Working alongside Hub West Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde through a detailed pre-construction period, designs were developed to meet a range of requirements ...
02/05/2024

Aberdeenshire Council has announced the installation of a downstream defender as part of ongoing works to restore and improve the ponds at Denman Park in Westhill. The popular ponds in Denman Park are home to a wide variety of pondlife and wildlife but have been subject to pollution from a range ...
02/05/2024

Contractors RJ McLeod are on schedule to complete the construction of a new Largs seawall in North Ayrshire. The £4.6m project is almost complete with the northern section of the promenade expected to re-open to pedestrians before the summer season gets under way. The project has seen the ...
02/05/2024

Scottish Water has announced the successful completion of a major technological transformation of Glasgow's Victorian era Partick Pumping Station. Built some 120 years ago, the pumping station remains a key part of the city's waste water infrastructure and still serves 170,000 people. It is one of ...
02/05/2024

SSEN Transmission has committed to consider community and landowner proposed alignments as part of its Kintore-Tealing 400kV project. These alignments - which will be assessed in parallel with other alignment options within the refined routes SSEN Transmission recently consulted on - are around ...
02/05/2024

SSEN Distribution has announced that it has chosen Electron's 'ElectronConnect' platform to streamline and expand its procurement of Flexibility Services. The company's DSO Acceleration Action Plan identified the selection of a new Flexibility Market Platform during the Spring of 2024 as a key ...
02/05/2024

West Dunbartonshire Council has declared a housing emergency, highlighting the unprecedented pressures on the ability to meet the needs of those in social housing or seeking a Council property. Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, who is the Convener of Housing and Communities, made the declaration ...
02/05/2024

The Highland Council has submitted its response to the Scottish Government's consultation on Masterplan Consent Areas (MCA), developed by members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee. The Scottish Government is proposing the introduction of discretionary powers to establish Masterplan ...
02/05/2024

As part of its ongoing efforts to improve biodiversity across the region, Perth and Kinross Council has announced an extension of its Grassland Management Trials, following successes at 42 other sites. These areas of longer grass will create space for nature and help attract bees, butterflies and ...
Morris & Spottiswood LtdRBT Underfloor LimitedMaterials Market LtdToner Damp Proofing SuppliesNo HydroBurnside Plant Hire LtdKattrak International Hidromek SalesScotdeck LtdThe Big Block Co LtdSafe Access (Highland) Ltd.
Terms and Conditions
2024/05/03 02:19:48