Supply of new housing jumps 15% in Scotland

Scottish housing minister Kevin Stewart has welcomed a 15% increase in Scotland’s supply of new housing but has warned that a no deal Brexit could have a damaging effect on future growth.

More than 22,000 homes have become available in Scotland in the past year - nearly 3,000 more homes than the previous year. The figures include private-led and social sector new builds, as well as conversions and renovations.

This is the sixth consecutive annual increase in Scotland’s housing supply, the highest annual figure since 2008-09, and for the first time since 1980, local authority housing stock has also increased.

Stewart said: “We want to ensure everyone has a warm affordable home and these figures show we are on target to reach delivering 50,000 affordable homes by 2021. However, I am deeply concerned that all our good work towards increasing Scotland’s housing supply could be significantly undermined by a no deal Brexit.

“Private house builders are particularly vulnerable to the implications of Brexit. Construction material imports to the UK from EU member states accounted for more than 60% of the total value of construction material imports to the UK in 2018.

“In addition, more than 7,000 EU nationals were employed in the Scottish construction sector in 2017. A ‘no deal’ Brexit poses significant risks to builders’ supply chains and the construction workforce in Scotland.

“Housing is yet another example of the deep damage that could be done to Scotland by a no-deal Brexit,” said the minister.