Housing Associations Provide Thousands of New Homes in Recession

Tuesday, 14 September 2010 11:42

The SFHA has welcomed news that in the last 12 months housing associations have built the second-highest number of affordable homes in one year since devolution. As the recession hit, associations and co-operatives increased their build-rate while the number of new homes built in the private sector slumped (by 20% in 2009-10).

• Between July 2009 and June 2010 there were 5,337 housing association and council flats and houses completed across Scotland, the second highest figure since 1982, and only exceeded by last year's record numbers.

• In 2009-10 there were 8,092 units completed by associations and co-operatives (a record under devolution).

Mary Taylor, Chief Executive of the SFHA said:

"The SFHA is proud that associations and co-operatives have continued their strong performance to June of this year in building badly-needed new affordable homes.

"The figures demonstrate that given the right resources, housing associations are well-placed to deliver quality new affordable homes in communities up and down the country. These homes support jobs, family incomes and quality of life for thousands of people in Scotland.

"This has been made possible by the Scottish Government's accelerated funding programme and by the renewed efforts of associations to borrow privately to fund new homes. However, this is not sustainable in the longer term without a reasonable on-going financial commitment from Government.

"With the budget pressures we face from now on, we cannot expect this level of building to continue automatically next year. This means maximising capital budgets, working together and being innovative. To this end we are contributing to the Scottish Government's discussion on the future of housing, Fresh Thinking New Ideas, which seeks to find solutions to meeting Scotland's housing need in the future."

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