Propertymark has urged the Scottish Government to build more affordable homes.

The latest data from the Scottish Government itself shows that the number of all-sector new build homes completed in Scotland decreased by six per cent in the year to September to 21,952.homes, down from 23,307 homes. 

And the number of all-sector new build homes started decreased by 24 per cent.

Private-led new build starts decreased by 19 per cent (3,017 homes), housing association new build starts decreased by 34 per cent (1,099 homes) and local authority new build starts decreased by 50 per cent (1,144 homes).

These falls came as the Scottish Government was imposing rent controls and eviction bans on the private rental sector, which was suffering from reduced stock as some landlords sold because letting was no longer economically viable.

Nathan Emerson, chief of Propertymark, comments: “Much of the data from the Scottish Government’s Housing Statistics report is positive, as it shows that housing association new builds have increased by nine per cent this year. 

“However, the Scottish Government still has rapid progress to make regarding building new homes. 

“This data indicates that the number of all-sector newbuilds has decreased in between September 2022 till September 2023. They must get their housing construction numbers back to what they were prior to Covid-19 to keep pace with demand.”