Scotland must urgently deliver a minimum of 15,693 affordable homes every year during the next parliamentary term, totalling 78,465 homes over five years, according to a major new report.

The study, which highlights a deepening housing emergency, states that at least half of these homes, or 7,860, are critically needed in Eastern Scotland to address escalating homelessness and social housing demand.

The report was funded collaboratively by Shelter Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland).

Since 2023, 13 local authorities and the Scottish Government have declared housing emergencies, demonstrating the crisis has worsened since similar research was conducted five years ago, which informed the Scottish Government's current affordable housing supply programme. With the next Scottish Parliamentary election approaching, the partners are appealing to all political parties to commit to delivering the new homes that Scotland requires.

The report estimates that a total public investment of at least £8.2 billion is needed over the next five years to achieve the target of 78,465 social and affordable homes by 2031.

-- Advertisement --

Callum Chomczuk, National Director for CIH Scotland, acknowledged the government's recent commitment but noted the significant gap: "The recent announcement from the Scottish Government of £4.9 billion investment over four years for social and affordable housing is a welcome step in the right direction. However our report, published today, shows £8.2bn is needed over the next five years... £4.9bn is a welcome demonstration of intent, but it fails to meet Scotland's social and affordable housing need and resolve the housing emergency."

Mr Chomczuk called for consensus, saying: "We hope that this full report sets the context for cross-party consensus on housing policy for Scotland, and that our MSPs build on the priorities set out by the Scottish Government and prioritise the financing and delivery of more than 75,000 social and affordable homes in the next Parliament."

Alison Watson, Director of Shelter Scotland, stressed the human cost of the crisis: "This research shows the devastating reality of Scotland's housing emergency and the decades of underinvestment in housing that have brought us to the point. The need for social housing is increasing and yet Scotland is not building anywhere near enough to meet demand."

She argued that new social homes are vital to prevent more families falling into poverty, to move the 10,180 children currently in temporary accommodation into permanent homes, and to protect young people. She warned: "We face a simple choice: invest in the homes we need now or pay the price for generations. Scotland cannot afford another lost decade on housing."

Richard Meade, SFHA Chief Executive, echoed the need for scale and quality: "The research is clear that Scotland will need over 15,000 social and affordable homes per year and total public investment of at least £8.2bn over the course of the next parliament. Housing associations deliver secure, warm, and affordable homes in communities across Scotland, and they could do so much more."

Mr Meade concluded that ending the emergency requires not just numbers, but "the right types of homes built in the right places," a need underscored by the scale of demand in the east of Scotland. He noted that achieving the targets would create "a fairer, healthier Scotland."