New housing numbers rising but is it enough or sustainable? | New Homes Bulletin Summer 2019

KEY FINDINGS:

• 2018 saw the highest number of new housing completions in Scotland post-recession, climbing to over 20,000 units. Delivery has been helped by programmes such as the Building Scotland Fund.
   
• However, this remains below the target levels generated by bodies such as the Commission for Housing & Well-being, which argued that Scotland needs to be delivering at least 23,000 new homes per year.
   
• The sustainability of these levels is also questionable given the sharp decline in planning consents at the end of 2018 (down 45% on the previous quarter) and Scottish Minsters rejection of the structure plan for the East of Scotland (SESplan2).