Homes for Scotland (HFS), whose members build the vast majority of the country's new homes, is warning that Scotland's national housing emergency — now in its third year — must not be allowed to become the status quo. The intervention comes on Scottish Housing Day and follows the recent Programme for Government.

Addressing more than 200 senior members and stakeholders from across the sector at the organisation's annual conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday 16 September, Chief Executive Jane Wood said: "Scotland is now in the third year of a national housing emergency, with starts and completions continuing to decline and too many people unable to find a home that meets their needs. We cannot allow this to become Scotland's new normal.

"Taking place on Scottish Housing Day and shortly after the Programme for Government announcement, our conference could not come at a more important time.

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"For our members, the test of the 'yes' culture to which the First Minister has committed to will be whether they experience it on the ground: in the planning system, infrastructure provision, the regulatory environment and the many other decisions that determine whether investment in new homes is viable and can proceed.

"The creation of the More Homes Scotland agency represents an important opportunity to bring the greater focus, co-ordination and momentum needed to increase the delivery of homes of all tenures.

"We want it to succeed. We want it to be ambitious and relentlessly focus on delivery, but this will depend on its scope, powers and commercial leadership, as well as how effectively it works with those at the sharp end of housing delivery.

"That must begin with an honest assessment of the barriers that are preventing many homes from being built and creating a shared understanding of why the current system too often fails to produce the homes we need.

"It also requires clear recognition of the cumulative impact regulation, delay and infrastructure costs have on development viability. These pressures do not exist in isolation: together, they determine whether homes are built or remain stuck on paper. This remains the ultimate test.

"We must be candid about what has not worked here, curious about what works elsewhere and prepared to adapt the strongest ideas to meet Scotland's needs."

The conference will also hear from Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing Shirley-Anne Somerville, alongside representatives from all parliamentary opposition parties, with additional insights from speakers covering England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.