WIREDGOV

Increase in new housing supply.

The number of homes built in Scotland for the full year to end September 2014 has risen by six per cent compared to the previous year, according to new figures.

15,436 homes were completed in the year to end September 2014, 901 homes more than in the year to end September 2013. This equates to a rate of 289 per thousand people in Scotland compared to 214 in England and 194 in Wales.

In the same period there were 11,828 private sector led starts, ten per cent higher than the previous year.

The number of social sector homes started also rose by five per cent to 3,593 compared to 3,417 started in the previous year.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said:

“These latest figures are to be welcomed and will provide further encouragement for Scotland’s house building industry.

“High quality, energy efficient, homes form the cornerstone of socially and economically sustainable communities.

“Our increased investment in house building has helped stimulate growth in the Scottish economy and led to more starts in the private and social sectors.

“We plan to spend over £1.7 billion to deliver our target of 30,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of this Parliament. There is a £200 million increase in the housing budget for 2015-16 compared to the budget for 2014-15.

“With almost 24,000 affordable homes delivered, we have already reached 80 per cent of this target.

“This comes despite continuing, challenging economic times and Westminster cuts to budgets.”

Notes To Editors

Background

More information is available at: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/03/4194