New data for 2025 shows that 17,336 homes were completed and 14,999 new builds were started across Scotland’s social and private sectors. The figures represent a cooling of the construction market, with an annual decrease of 6% in all-sector starts and a 13% drop in completions compared to 2024.

The private sector led activity with 13,725 completions and 11,929 starts. However, when excluding the pandemic-affected year of 2020, private sector completions hit their lowest level since 2017, while starts reached a low not seen since 2013.

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The social sector recorded 3,611 completions and 3,070 starts. These figures represent the lowest completion rate for social housing since 2014, while social sector starts fell to their lowest level since the current data series began in 1997.

The Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) also experienced a challenging year, delivering 6,289 completed homes—a 25% decrease compared to 2024. Approvals fell by 9% (5,833 homes) and starts dropped by 15% (5,856 homes).

Despite the annual decline, a surge in activity was noted in the latter half of the year. The final six months of 2025 saw a 58% increase in approvals and a 21% increase in starts compared to the same period in the previous year.

As of December 2025, 32,479 homes have been delivered toward the Scottish Government’s target of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032. The current delivery breakdown includes:

• Social Rent: 25,016 homes (77%)

• Affordable Rent: 4,750 homes (15%)

• Affordable Home Ownership: 2,713 homes (8%)