New housebuilding activity in Scotland has slowed substantially, with data for the year ending September 2025 showing a fall in completions and starts across both the private and social sectors.

A total of 18,347 homes were completed across all sectors in the 12-month period, with 14,846 new-build homes started. When compared to the year ending September 2024, the figures indicate an 8% decline in all-sector completions and a 5% fall in all-sector starts.

The social sector saw 4,122 completions and 3,031 starts. The figures for the social sector are particularly concerning: completions were at their lowest level since the year to the end of 2017, and starts recorded their lowest level since the beginning of this data series in the year to September 1997.

Private developers delivered the majority of activity, with 14,225 completions and 11,815 starts. Excluding the year 2020 (which was distorted by the impact of Covid-19), private-sector completions were the lowest since the year to September 2018, and starts were the lowest since the year to September 2013.

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Completions under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) also saw a significant reduction in the year to September 2025. The programme recorded 5,222 approvals, 5,494 starts, and 6,582 completions.

Compared to the previous year, this represents steep declines:

• Completions fell by 23% (-1,931)

• Approvals dropped by 22% (-1,460)

• Starts were down by 13% (-853)

These figures track progress towards the Scottish Government’s goal of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70% designated for social rent. By the end of September 2025, a total of 31,064 affordable homes had been completed against this target. Of these, 24,112 (78%) were for social rent, 4,345 (14%) for affordable rent, and 2,607 (8%) for affordable home ownership.

It was noted that there have been notable upward revisions to all-sector new-build starts (+575) and completions (+381) across Quarter 1 (January to March) and Quarter 2 (April to June) of 2025. These revisions mainly reflect private-sector activity in the City of Edinburgh.

The detailed statistics are published in the Housing Statistics for Scotland Quarterly Update: New Housebuilding and Affordable Housing Supply to end September 2025. Official statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.