Leading figures from across the Scottish housing, planning, and development sectors gathered in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 15th April, to discuss the strategic potential of "More Homes Scotland." The new national housing agency, announced by the First Minister in January, aims to consolidate the housing system by coordinating land, planning, funding, and delivery.

The roundtable event, hosted by Building Relations PR in partnership with law firm Burness Paull, brought together 14 senior representatives from organisations including Taylor Wimpey, CCG Construction, Places for People, and the Scottish Futures Trust. The primary focus was how the agency might address the current fragmentation of the housing system and provide much-needed strategic leadership.

Industry experts highlighted that while the appetite for delivery is high, the sector is currently under significant strain due to rising build costs, infrastructure constraints, and a complex policy landscape. The consensus among attendees was that for More Homes Scotland to be effective when it begins operations in 2027, it must possess the authority to influence the wider system and remove existing barriers to development.

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Pauline Mills, Technical Director at Taylor Wimpey, said: "More Homes Scotland needs the authority to set direction, remove barriers and ensure all agencies work together to accelerate housing delivery across Scotland."

Dr Jocelyne Fleming, Policy & Public Affairs Lead for Scotland at the Chartered Institute of Building, added: "A national housing agency could provide clear strategic leadership and help align land, planning, infrastructure and finance behind delivery. Done well, it could support the efficient delivery of the high-quality, affordable homes Scottish communities so desperately need."

The discussion, chaired by Alasdair Sutherland of Burness Paull and Rachel Colgan of Building Relations PR, also emphasised the necessity of closer collaboration between national government, local authorities, and the private sector. Leaders noted that a more joined-up approach would not only provide homes but also unlock wider economic benefits for the country.

Rachel Colgan, Founding Director at Building Relations PR, commented: "If this discussion unearthed one thing, it's that collaboration across the housing sector will be key to making More Homes Scotland effective. The sector needs practical support, better coordination and a system that helps turn ambition into delivery."

Alasdair Sutherland, Head of Planning & Environment at Burness Paull, concluded: "Establishing a housing agency could be a significant step forward, but we must get it right. There is a big prize if we do—not only will it ensure more people have access to the homes they need but it also has the potential to unlock wider social and economic benefits."

A formal report summarising the insights and recommendations from the roundtable is expected to be published in the coming weeks.