First Minister has pledged bold reform of
housing in the public sector to ensure the next generation has
access to affordable homes to rent or buy.
Speaking ahead of an announcement tomorrow from the Scottish
Government, the First Minister said changes are needed if we
are to fully grasp the opportunities presented
by economies of scale, removing
barriers, and working more closely with the
private sector.
The First Minister said, despite more than 141,000 affordable
homes being delivered in Scotland since 2007, the current model
of public sector delivery must be reformed if it is
to meet the urgent need for more homes.
It comes as a record £926 million of funding has
been allocated to the Affordable Housing Supply Programme in the
draft Scottish Budget 2026-27 - the biggest allocation to
affordable housing since records began in 1989.
Mr Swinney said:
“Since 2007, the Scottish Government has supported the delivery
of 141,000 affordable homes in Scotland, including 101,000 for
social rent – proportionately far more than other parts of the
UK. This has helped thousands of families have a warm, safe and
affordable place to call home.
“We are determined to provide our younger generation with the
opportunity to find a place they can rent or buy, and we are
driven by their needs, hopes and aspirations.
“Our commitment is clear – we have an ambition
to invest up to £4.9 billion over the next four
years to deliver 36,000 affordable homes. But to maximise best
value for this investment, we need a public sector delivery model
that is fit for purpose.
“I am of the view that collective action and direct intervention
is required if we are to ramp up efficiencies and build on our
strong track record in affordable housing. We also need more
ambition, greater focus on raising private finance and
accelerating development across all tenures.. That is why we will
work in partnership with the Scottish National Investment Bank to
attract more commercial investment into our housing markets.
“Housing is a key driver of how we lift children out of
poverty and grow our economy. It is incumbent on all of
us to ensure we work together to make things
happen – maximising every penny of investment to deliver the
houses the people of Scotland so urgently need.”
Background
Between 2007-08 and 2024-25, the annual average supply of
affordable housing per head of population in Scotland has been
14.4 homes per 10,000 population, 69% higher than Wales (8.6
homes per 10,000 population), 45% higher than England (9.9 homes
per 10,000 population) and 16% higher than Northern Ireland (12.4
homes per 10,000 population – average across the years 2010-11 to
2021-22).
