WIREDGOV

New figures show Scottish Government on track to reach 2016 affordable homes target.

Housing statistics released yesterday show the Scottish Government is ahead of its 5-year target to deliver 30,000 affordable homes by March 2016.

The figures show that 26,972 affordable homes have been delivered in the 4 years from 2011-12 as part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme – 90 per cent of the Scottish Government target. This includes 18,670 homes for social rent – 93 per cent of the social rent target.

A total of 15,541 new build homes, both private and for social rent, were completed in the full year to end December 2014, 4 per cent (657 homes) more than the 14,884 completions in the previous year.

Private sector led housing accounted for a large proportion of this increase, with a 16 per cent increase in private sector led completions in 2014.

In addition, social sector new build homes completed for the first quarter of 2015 show a total of 1,677; more than double the number of homes completed in the same period last year. This brings total social sector completions in the financial year 2014-15 to 4,221, an increase of 4 per cent on the previous year.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said:

“Housing is at the heart of the Scottish Government’s ambitions to create a fairer and more prosperous country and the supply of affordable housing is a key priority. I’m delighted to say we are well on track to meeting our five year target of 30,000 new homes by 2016.

“The figures for the first quarter to the end of March 2015 are positive and we will work with partners to deliver our target of 30,000 affordable homes across Scotland by next year.

“In addition, we will continue to work closely with the housing sector to support the construction of new homes across all tenures, supporting jobs in the construction industry and wider economy, and helping to strengthen communities, promote social justice and tackle inequality.”

Notes To Editors

The publication, containing details of new house building the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and sales of social sector housing, can be found at this address: www.gov.scot/stats/bulletins/01159