WIREDGOV

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.

The number of affordable homes approved in 2013 rose by a fifth compared to 2012. The number completed also increased (by 13%) although the number of starts fell by a third.

This relates to affordable homes supported by the Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) which covers homes for social rent, affordable rent and affordable home ownership and includes off the shelf purchases and rehabilitations as well as new build.

Updated housing statistics have been released today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

The key points from the data are as follows:

New house building:

Private Sector

There were 2,375 private sector led starts in Q3 (2013) slightly below the quarterly average since the start of 2011. This brings the total for the year to end September 2013 to 9,896, 5% lower than for the 12 months to end September 2012.

There were 2,582 private sector led completions in Q3 (July – September) 2013 in line with the quarterly average since the start of 2011. This brings the total for the year to end September 2013 to 9,938 - down very slightly (by 0.5%) on the 9,990 completions for the year to end September 2012.

Social Housing (Housing Association and Local Authority combined)

Social sector data is available up to Q4 (October – December) 2013. There were 797 social housing starts in quarter 4 of 2013, bringing the total for the year to 3,573. This is an increase of 7% on the 3,337 starts in 2012.

There were 896 social housing completions in quarter 4 of 2013, bringing the total for the year to 4,097. This is a decrease of 18% on the 5,021 completions in 2012.

Housing Association Homes

There were 548 housing association starts in quarter 4 of 2013, bringing the total for 2013 to 2,497. This is a 7% increase on the 2,344 starts in 2012.

There were 614 housing association completions in quarter 4 of 2013, bringing the total for 2013 to 2,865. This is a 27% decrease on 3,919 completions in 2012.

Local Authority Homes

There were 249 local authority starts in quarter 4 of 2013, bringing the total to 1,076 for 2013. This is a 8% increase on the 993 starts in 2012.

There were 282 local authority completions in quarter 4 of 2013, bringing the total to 1,2321 for 2013. This is a 12% increase on 1,102 in 2012.

All Sectors

There were 2,802 new build starts in Q3 of 2013 – this brings the total for the year to end September 2013 to 13,297 which is down by 3% compared to the previous year.

There were 3,741 new build completions in Q3 of 2013 – this brings the total for the year to end September 2013 to 14,239, down 7% compared to the previous year.

Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP)

AHSP statistics reflect the broader supply of affordable homes (i.e. for social rent, affordable rent and affordable home ownership) and include off the shelf purchases and rehabilitations as well as new build.

The latest position to the 12 months up to Q4 (2013), shows approvals are up 20% to 6,778. This has yet to be fully represented in starts which are down 33% at 4,326.

There were 7,189 completions in the 12 months up to Q4 (2013), up 13% on the previous 12 months. This incorporates large increases in affordable rents and affordable home ownership, alongside decreases in social rent.

Right to Buy (RTB)

Following the announcement to end Right to Buy in July ’13, there was a 39% increase in the number of RtB applications from 701 in Q2 (2013) to 972 in Q3 (2013). This is the highest number since 1,049 in Q1 (2010) and 52% above the quarterly average for the past 3 years of 640.

There was also a 44% increase in the number of RtB sales from 229 in Q2 (2013) to 330 in Q3 (2013). This is 14% higher than the quarterly average of 289 for the past 3 years.

The figures released today were produced by independent statistical staff free from any political interference, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Notes to editors

The web tables associated with this publication can be found as follows:

New build and AHSP tables: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuild

Local Authority house sales: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/Sales

This publication contains Information on social sector new build and the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) up to 31 December 2013 (Q4) and figures for private sector led new build and local authority house sales up to 30 September 2013 (Q3). An explanatory document providing background information on the statistics is also available.

The new build, AHSP and sales tables are updated each quarter. A range of other statistics are updated annually and are available on the Housing Statistics for Scotland website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS

Housing association and most Local authority led new build activity is funded through Scottish Government funding programmes. Several changes to these funding programmes in recent years have affected both the trends and seasonal quarterly pattern of new build approvals, so care should be taken when making comparisons over time. These same changes will also impact on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

The supply statistics break down new build construction activity into private and social sector starts and completions, with the social sector further broken down between local authority and registered social landlord (housing association). The figures are as recorded by Local Authority admin systems and the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) admin system. Private sector construction activity includes not only homes built for private sale but also some homes which are used in the affordable housing sector and self-build activity by local builders.

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/About