Unveiling its manifesto for the local government election, the SNP leader said the party is determined to build on its ambitious housing targets in each of Scotland’s local authority areas.

Speaking on a visit to newly developed fully-accessible flats in Stenhousemuir with local candidates Gary Bouse and Laura Murtagh, Ms Sturgeon said affordable housing is the building block of a happy life and committed to three key manifesto pledges:

Furthermore the party has promised to reduce the amount of time people spend in temporary accommodation and consider proximity of this housing to health and education services and work to bring empty houses into use for rent or purchase.

It will also devolve a minimum of 1% of each council’s budget directly to communities, help communities use new legislation to take over land or buildings currently in public ownership and revitalise communities by helping local groups take ownership of neglected land and property, with backing from the Scottish Land Fund.

The First Minister said: “We believe that everyone in Scotland deserves a warm, affordable home. That is why SNP councils will commit to three key pledges to ensure everyone has access to a safe home.

“Over the next four years, SNP-led councils will build their share of 50,000 new affordable houses for Scotland, with at least 35,000 of these for social rent.

“We will raise the standard in temporary accommodation and always consider proximity to key health and education services.

“And that’s on top of the action we’ve already taken in government to help more people buy their first home, to tackle fuel poverty and to ensure tenants in the private rented sector don’t get ripped off.

“And of course while the Tories are cutting support for families, we will continue to make sure no one in Scotland pays the Tories’ hated bedroom tax and that young people do not find themselves without a roof over their head because of Tory cuts.

“While the SNP is building for the future, the Tories are trying to get their hands on local services to drag Scotland backwards.

“If the Tories seize control of our communities that means deeper cuts to services, fewer affordable homes and more cruel austerity measures that we know are pushing families into poverty.

“That’s why it is absolutely vital that we vote for an ambitious SNP to deliver new affordable homes – vote against more Tory cuts – and elect strong SNP councils to represent our communities on 4th May.”

The Scottish Green Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Labour and have Scottish Conservatives have all now published their respective manifestos.