Homes for Scotland (HFS), the sector body representing the majority of new home builders across all tenures in Scotland, has today welcomed the publication of the Housing Investment Taskforce report. HFS is urging the Scottish Government to swiftly implement the report's recommendations to tackle the country's housing emergency.

Fionna Kell, Director of Policy at HFS, highlighted the urgency of the situation: "With it now over a year since the declaration of a national housing emergency which has seen over half of the Scottish population now living in areas within local housing emergencies, the publication of today’s report and response from the Scottish Government confirming they will take forward the report’s recommendations is to be welcomed."

The Taskforce's report identifies a range of actions aimed at enhancing the delivery of high-quality new homes across all tenures and building investor confidence. HFS notes that the report "rightly recognises the urgent need for bold, co-ordinated and interventionist action to create the appropriate regulatory conditions necessary for housing investment and importantly, delivery across all tenures to thrive."

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With approximately 693,000 households in Scotland currently experiencing some form of housing need, the report addresses many consistent concerns raised by the home building sector, including planning delays, infrastructure costs, and regulatory uncertainty that significantly impact development capacity.

Ms Kell expressed satisfaction with specific recommendations: "It is therefore pleasing to see recommendations to ensure the planning system becomes an enabler for increased supply and more efficient decision timeframes, alongside the call for clear, consistent long-term policy whether this be through the exemptions made to Build to Rent and Mid Market Rent properties in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, or consideration of new finance models for delivering infrastructure."

HFS is "encouraged by the Taskforce’s emphasis on collaboration and innovation," but stresses that "what is now required is the political will to switch rhetoric to delivery." The organisation reiterated that HFS and its members are "ready to play their part in increasing the supply of high-quality, energy efficient and affordable homes across all tenures to tackle the housing emergency and provide their crucial expertise on how Scotland’s regulatory framework can deliver rather than block the new homes so desperately needed by Scotland’s people."