A total of 21,384 new houses have been built in Scotland over the last year, according to new official figures published today.

While new builds in the private sector have fallen during the economic downturn, building of affordable homes by the public sector is at the highest level since the mid 1990's.

New builds by housing associations and councils now account for 23% of new properties, compared to just 13 per cent in 06/07 under the previous administration.

The latest figures show 4,913 new affordable homes were completed last year; more new public sector homes built in a single year than since 1995/96.

A record £644 million has been allocated for affordable housing this year, with a commitment to invest over £1.5 billion over three years.

Approvals have been made to allow work to start this financial year on 1,343 council houses supported by the first tranche of £50m, the first central Government funding to encourage local authorities to build new housing in 30 years.

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This compares with just six council houses built during the four years of the last administration.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "As these encouraging figures show, record Scottish Government investment is delivering much needed affordable homes and public sector home building is at the highest level since the mid 1990's.

"Building projects throughout the country are bringing much-needed new contracts and safeguarding jobs for Scotland"s construction industry against a backdrop of continuing economic uncertainty, and at a time when new builds in the private sector are declining, this is more important than ever."

The Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland (CIH) has welcomed the Scottish Government's announcement but is warning that this may dramatically fall away next year if the forthcoming Scottish Budget does not re-invest in affordable housing.

Alan Ferguson, Director, CIH Scotland said: "More affordable homes have been built this year because the Scottish Government brought forward £120m of funding from the planned 2010-11 spend. This has been welcomed by most people in the sector as it has helped to deliver more much needed housing and protected jobs in the building industry, thus helping the economy. However, what the sector and the Scottish Government knew is that this would leave a gaping hole in the budget for affordable housing in 2010-11.

"To date we have not seen any plans from the Scottish Government as to how they intend to fill this hole in the forthcoming Scottish Budget. It is imperative that more funding is forthcoming if the laudable work of the Scottish Government in supporting more affordable homes and jobs is not to come tumbling down."

(GK/KMcA)