Investing in affordable homes

Budget provides future funding guarantee.

More than £840 million will support the delivery of affordable homes.

Last week’s budget announced a £17 million increase to help meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver 50,000 affordable homes over the course of this parliament.

A further £300 million was also committed for 2021-22 to ensure affordable homes continue to be delivered beyond the current parliamentary term.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said:

“Ensuring everyone has access to a safe, warm and affordable place to call home is at the heart of our ambition for a Fairer Scotland. The 2020-21 Scottish Budget adds to the single biggest investment and delivery of affordable housing since devolution.

“The Scottish Government has now committed more than £3.5 billion to deliver good quality, secure and affordable homes, which will in turn help create strong, sustainable communities. Since 2007 we have delivered more than 89,000 affordable homes, including 61,356 for social rent, with the remainder for affordable home ownership and affordable rent.

“Importantly, our spending plans also include a £300 million commitment to guarantee that affordable homes continue to be delivered beyond our 50,000 target, ensuring councils, housing associations and the construction sector have some financial certainty ahead of the spending review in June.”

Background

  • official statistics on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme show that 65,334 of more than 89,000 affordable homes delivered since 2007 have been new build, with 18,474 being open market purchases and 5,560 rehabilitations.
  • in the four years to 2019, the Scottish Government has delivered over 80% more affordable homes per head of population than in England - 147 homes per 100,000 population, compared with 80 in England
  • in the same period, there have been eight times more social rented properties delivered in Scotland per head of population than in England - 93 homes per 100,000 population in Scotland compared to 11 in England

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