The latest housing statistics published by the Scottish Government show a mixed picture for the social and housing association sector
The latest housing statistics published by the Scottish Government show a mixed picture for the social and housing association sector
The latest housing statistics published by the Scottish Government show a mixed picture for the social and housing association sector.
New Build Housing – Housing Association Homes
- There were 462 housing association completions between April and June 2017, 38% less than the 746 completions in the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year to end June 2017 to 2,464, a 12% (339 homes) decrease on the 2,803 completions over the previous year.
- There were 426 housing association approvals between April and June 2017; 21% more than the 351 approvals in the same quarter in the previous year. This brings the total for the year to end June 2017 to 5,020. This is an increase of 63% (1,942 homes) on the 3,078 approvals in the previous year.
- More up-to-date figures show that a total of 386 Housing Association homes were completed between July and September 2017, 43% less completions than in the same period in the previous year (681 homes). This brings the total completions for the 12 months to end September 2017 to 2,169, which is a decrease of 19% on the 2,694 homes completed in the previous year. A total of 540 Housing Association homes were approved between July and September 2017, 34% less than the 817 approvals in the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total approvals for the 12 months to end September 2017 to 4,743, a 33% increase on the 3,563 approvals in the previous year.
On the face of it, a fall in completions is somewhat surprising as the sector has benefitted from increased funding and members have been telling us that they are working flat out to deliver much needed affordable homes.
Progress in delivering more homes and towards the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide 50,000 affordable homes will be one of the key themes will be one of the main themes of the SFHA’s Development Conference which is being held in Glasgow on the 6th of February. We will hear from Caroline Dicks and Mark Turley of the Scottish Government on progress towards the target and of a significant increase in the Scottish Housing Budget which is intended to help housing associations deliver more affordable homes.
The SFHA also plans to work with members in the coming year to look at progress in building new homes. We plan to conduct a survey to establish whether there are barriers or blockages that need to be addressed as the sector works to deliver 50,000 homes.