Scotland’s councils are ready to respond to the Scottish Government’s call to deliver 35,000 new social rented homes during this parliament with plans in place to double the number of new homes they provide each year.

New figures presented to government officials by of the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO) have shown that the 26 council landlords have plans in place to for over 14,000 homes by 2021 including the 1,085 homes added in 2016/17.

Local authorities delivered 5,512 homes between 2011-2016 and are set to invest over £1.3 billion, around 60% of which will be paid for by tenants through their rents, with most of the remainder will be provided as grant from the Scottish Government.

At the meeting to review progress towards the 50,000 home target, ALACHO also raised some of the challenges that councils, housing associations and the private sector face in delivering new homes and the risk to the supply of new supported housing caused by welfare reform and the difficulties in delivering new homes in remote and island communities.

John Mills, ALACHO vice chair, said: “In 2006 Scottish councils built no new homes at all. Since the Scottish Government reintroduced grant aid for council homes six years ago, and finally abolished the right to buy in July 2016, we have been working hard to re-establish our place as a significant provider of new homes.

“These figures are testament not just to that hard work but to the commitment of council tenants across Scotland who have been asked, and have agreed, to provide substantial sums from their rent to deliver the affordable homes that their communities need.

“Scottish councils hope to provide up to a third of new social rented homes in Scotland over the next five years. Our longer-term aim is to be equal partners with our housing associations colleagues in delivering the homes our communities need.”

In evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s local government and communities committee, ALACHO has called for a 15-20 year cross party commitment to increase the number of social rented homes across Scotland.