SNP failures all over decline in housebuilding and supply

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today said that SNP decisions have made the housing crisis significantly worse after statistics confirmed dramatic falls in new housing supply and new build completions in the year to March 2024, despite an increase in the number of people seeking housing.

Official figures published today show that:

• Between 2022/23 and 2023/24, new housing supply decreased by 16.4%, or 3,984 homes.
• In the same period, new build completions decreased by 16.1%, a drop of 3,835 homes.
• As of 31st March 2024, 177,264 applications were recorded on 26 local authority or common housing register housing lists. This represents 2,172 more households compared with March 2023.

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Paul McGarry said:

“The fingerprints of SNP failures are all over these figures.

“Their hostile attitude to business crushed new housing supply.

“That’s why it was right that Scottish Liberal Democrats got the government to significantly increase funding for affordable housing in this year’s budget, but now it’s down to them to spend that money and deliver the new homes that Scotland so badly needs.

“The Scottish Government must also listen to our calls to bring thousands of empty homes back into use and re-establish social rent as a viable, long-term option.”