First Minister John Swinney has announced the Scottish Government's intention to launch a new national housing agency, titled 'More Homes Scotland'.

The executive body will be tasked with increasing the "simplicity, scale and speed" of residential development to address the ongoing housing emergency across the country.

Pending the outcome of the Scottish Parliament election, the agency is scheduled to begin operations in 2027-28, reaching full functionality by 2028-29. Its remit will cover several critical pillars of the sector, including large-scale affordable housing, rural and island developments, and the acquisition and preparation of land. Additionally, the agency will focus on delivering the infrastructure required to progress stalled construction sites.

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing will lead a co-design process over the coming months to define the agency's operating model, working alongside local authorities and the Scottish National Investment Bank. An update on this progress is expected to be presented to the Scottish Parliament in March.

The announcement was made during a visit to a 90-home Wheatley Homes development in Wallyford, East Lothian. Commenting on the vision for the new body, First Minister John Swinney said: "Since 2007, the Scottish Government has supported the delivery of 141,000 affordable homes in Scotland, including 101,000 for social rent – proportionately far more than other parts of the UK. We have helped thousands of families to have a warm, safe and affordable place to call home.

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"However, Scotland is facing a housing emergency. We recognise the difficulty that many Scots – in particular young Scots - have finding a home they can afford to rent or buy.

"We have firm foundations and have recently stepped up our efforts. The 2026-27 draft Scottish Budget includes the single largest funding allocation to affordable housing since records began in 1989. We have committed to invest up to £4.9 billion over the next four years, backed by a record £4.1 billion of public investment, helping to deliver 36,000 affordable homes and providing a place to live for around 24,000 children. This is providing record funding and more multi-year certainty than ever before.

"This, along with other policy measures, has given confidence to the investment community. However, we must have a public sector delivery model that can rise to our enhanced ambitions.

"A new national agency will mean less duplication, greater expertise, increased efficiencies, and making our substantial investment go further. It will also provide enhanced support to our local authority partners and we will work in partnership with the Scottish National Investment Bank to attract more commercial investment.

"It is a new body that will offer simplicity, scale and speed – boosting delivery, and maximising savings, as part of our commitment to a decade of public sector modernisation and reform.

"More Homes Scotland will meet the needs of this time. It will deliver – for a new generation of Scots – new homes more quickly, more affordably, in more liveable, climate friendly communities."

The Scottish National Investment Bank, which will work closely with the agency to leverage private finance, has already committed over £130 million to the housing sector. David Ritchie, the Bank's Chief Executive, said: "The Bank has invested more than £130 million in housing to date, with a robust pipeline of more potential housing investments. We welcome More Homes Scotland being established to bring momentum in finding housing solutions.

"As a mission-led investor, the Bank makes commercial investments that drive long-term societal and economic growth for Scotland. Our 'Place' mission is focused on improving communities, and a good home is a key tenet of that.

"Working with private investors and homebuilders we have developed innovative approaches to unlock finance, getting much-needed homes built across Scotland."