Scotland on course for biggest growth in social housing since 1970s
Posted 26 Feb 2018

A first of its kind independent report on the progress being made on the Scottish Government’s affordable homes target of 50,000 has shown that it is within reach over the period of this parliament.
Leading housing bodies have commissioned independent researchers to examine the information in councils' "Strategic Housing Investment Plans". The detailed analysis shows that, at the top end of the predicted numbers of new affordable homes, 49,773 will be delivered, with a lower estimate of 45,387. New-build homes will make up 96% of the total programme.
The report says the £3 billion affordable housing programme is the biggest undertaken since the 1970s and is set to deliver a net increase of 25,000 new homes to Scotland’s social housing stock (after demolitions or other losses are included). This contrasts with a predicted net loss of 120,000 council homes in England, where tenants still have a right-to-buy their homes.
The report points out that, while the number of homes being built looks to be close to target, it is not easy to tell whether the right type of homes are being built in the right places. The report points to this as a crucial element in determining the overall success of the programme and calls for more detail in that area.
Review of Strategic Investment Plans for Affordable Housing - was commissioned by Shelter Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland, who welcomed the report with cautious optimism as an important next step in seeing a step-change in tackling the long-term housing shortage.
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said:
“This report is good news for the 137,100 households on council waiting lists and many others waiting for homes with housing associations. It shows that with the right political leadership Scotland’s social housing sector is ready to rise to the challenge of delivering the largest increase in social sector homes since the 1970s.
“Within our grasp, for the first time in a generation, is a significant increase in the affordable homes that so many badly need.