Social housing completions ‘up almost 20 per cent’ under SNP

More social sector homes for rent have been completed during the last seven years of the SNP government than over the same period under the former Labour-LibDem administration, according to new statistics.

Figures obtained by a Parliamentary Question answered by housing minister Margaret Burgess show that 28,988 homes for social rent were completed in the last seven years of the Labour-LibDem administration (2000-01 to 2006-07). In the last seven years of the SNP government 34,633 social rent homes have been completed – 19.5 per cent more than in the last seven years of the Labour-led executive.

The Scottish Government has pledged to deliver 30,000 affordable homes by the end of this Parliament and said back in June that it is on target to deliver with 26,972 affordable homes already built since 2011-12 (90 per cent of its target). This includes 18,670 homes for social rent – 93 per cent of the Scottish Government’s social rent target.

SNP MSP Mike MacKenzie, who received the figures, said the progress made towards the affordable homes target comes despite real terms cuts of 25 per cent to Scotland’s capital budget.

He added: “Housing is at the heart of our ambitions for a fairer, more equal Scotland and the Scottish Government is already on track to deliver 30,000 affordable homes by the end of this Parliament, including 20,000 homes for social rent.

“We understand that building more homes is not just a social good in itself but also creates jobs and boosts our economy.”