MacCallum: Housebuilding figures going in the wrong direction

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Morven-May MacCallum MSP has today encouraged the Scottish Government to increase the number of homes being built as new figures revealed a sluggish industry with both completions and starts falling from last year.

The Scottish Government's quarterly housing statistics show housebuilding activity was lower than the previous year; completions fell by 11% (2,123 fewer homes) and new starts fell by 2% (272 fewer homes). Looking at the longer-term trends, completions were at their lowest level since 2015, while starts were at their lowest level since 2013.

Morven-May MacCallum MSP said:

“Far too many Scots have nowhere to live or are paying through the nose in rent.

“That will never change so long as housebuilding figures are going in the wrong direction.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would tackle the chronic housing shortage by returning housebuilding to a level that gets 25,000 new homes built annually and creates new key worker housing so that finding a home isn’t a barrier to taking up a job when somewhere is crying out for your skills.

“Housebuilders have told us that the SNP’s chopping and changing of housing policy must end. We need to make Scotland a place where people want to invest and get new housing of every kind built.”