Report says affordable homes crisis won't be alleviated at current rate of new builds
Double the number of affordable homes currently being built is needed to combat Scotland’s housing crisis, leading charities have warned.
A new report commissioned by Shelter Scotland, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) says at least 12,000 affordable homes need to be built each year for the next five years.
This is the double the number currently being built, the organisations say.
The report is the result of the first in-depth investigation into Scotland’s total housing need in the last 10 years and puts the cost of the proposed housing programme at an average of at least £700 million each year over five years.
A team from the independent Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam, Sheffield University and University of St Andrews, who compiled the report, found that the need and demand for affordable housing far outstrips supply in Scotland.
Politics is about making choices and we have simply got to do more to reduce homelessness in Scotland
In line with the research’s findings, Shelter Scotland, SFHA and the CIH want all political parties to adopt ambitious targets for new affordable housing in their manifestos for next year’s Holyrood election campaigns.
Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, said: “The 12,000-a-year target for new affordable homes is the minimum level required to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis.
“Politics is about making choices and we have simply got to do more to reduce homelessness in Scotland.
“A house building programme on this scale would bring real hope of a home to the thousands of people in Scotland without a suitable affordable home and also be a major boost to jobs and the economy.”
The call was backed by Mary Taylor, chief executive of the SFHA, who said: “While we acknowledge that the Scottish Government is on track to meet its current target of 6,000 affordable homes over five years per annum, this figure must be doubled to 12,000 in order to meet the growing housing need across the country on top of a backlog of need.
“The research provides evidence of the scale of need. Scottish ministers are already considering recommendations from the subsidy review group earlier this summer which showed a need for increased subsidy.
“We are calling on all political parties ahead of the Holyrood elections to commit to increased investment.
“It is also of paramount importance that not only do we build more homes but that the homes are of good quality. Increasing the amount of energy efficient housing stock will help to reduce fuel poverty and improve the nation’s health.
“Housing is the foundation of a person’s life and by acknowledging and tackling the housing crisis, there is an opportunity to improve the life chances of Scotland’s people, including some of the poorest and most vulnerable.”
