Call for return to pre-recession housebuilding levels

Scotland needs to build at least 100,000 homes suiting a range of needs by the end of the next Scottish Parliament to tackle Scotland’s housing crisis, the industry is to be told today.

Homes for Scotland chief Philip Hogg wants government support for plan to build more houses. Picture: Getty

Philip Hogg, chief executive of trade body Homes for Scotland, will call on the Scottish Government to help meet the goal, which he says would return the country to at least pre-recession levels of building.

Set to address an audience including more than 120 senior industry representatives, he said the organisation believes the target is “ambitious but achievable”.

Additionally, in a report published today, consultancy Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP) highlighted the potential annual uplift if build rates returned to pre-recession levels.

Nicola Woodward of NLP said its analysis found that the significant economic benefits would include an additional £443 million of capital expenditure, £1.9 billion extra economic output and almost 38,400 extra jobs.