Housebuilding slumps by 11% as First Minister John Swinney admits 'emergency'
There has been a fall in the number of homes built and completed over twelve months.
Housebuilding has suffered an 11% slump, piling pressure on the SNP Government in the middle of a housing emergency.
New figures also record a drop in the number of houses completed over the past twelve months.
John Swinney's government has been criticised for its record on housing over horror stats on homelessness and the number of children in temporary accommodation.
Young Scots are also struggling to get on the housing ladder and Swinney recently appointed ally Mairi McAllan to a newly created Cabinet post to tackle the crisis.
However, the figures published by the Government show the scale of the challenge.
As well as the 11% decrease in housebuilding starts, there was a 4% decrease in completions between 2023-24 and 2024-25.
In the social sector, completions were at their lowest level since 2016-17 and starts the lowest since 2012-13.
The 7,444 completions of affordable homes last year fell by 22% compared to the previous twelve months.
Housing campaigner Sean Clerkin said: "The Scottish Tenants Organisation demands that there needs to be a housing revolution in build build build to at least double the amount of social rented homes being built to start tackling the massive housing shortage we have in Scotland.
"The Scottish Government have to pull the finger out now and make social house building their number one priority for Scotland to give our homeless children a home to grow up in to have good mental and physical well-being."
Swinney said this month: 'I have made changes to the Cabinet which will further enable us to realise that potential. Màiri McAllan has been tasked with tackling the housing emergency, including ensuring we have energy efficient homes to help bring down bills and tackle the climate emergency.
"These are two of the biggest challenges facing people across the country and I want them to know they have a government firmly on their side and focused on delivering real change."
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