Property leaders are challenging the ruling Scottish National Party to explain how it will deliver its house building plans.

Trade body Propertymark welcomes a promise to build 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, but questions how the SNP intends to deliver on this pledge.

Scottish opposition parties have raised concerns that as inflation, cost of living pressures and homelessness numbers rise, the housebuilding commitment has becoming completely unachievable.

Propertymark supports calls for the Scottish Government to drastically improve how it values the PRS, and tackle housing issues with greater urgency.

House building

The Scottish Government is planning to invest £3.5 billion to support the delivery of 110,000 affordable homes within nine years, 70% of which will be for social rent.

Housing has become a central priority for the Scottish Government, with First Minister Humza Yousaf (main picture) stating in his Programme for Government 2023 to 2024 that his administration intends to make approximately £60 million available to councils and social landlords to buy empty and private sector houses.

Opportunity missed

Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, says: “Propertymark welcomes the SNP’s plans to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, but they missed an opportunity this week [at the party conference] to clarify how they were going to deliver that policy.

“We are disappointed that they chose to overlook what is likely to be a priority subject for many Scottish voters.”

Yousaf followed up on his promise to target second homes owners. A plan to charge more than double the full council tax charge on a second home was consulted on by the Government.

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