The SNP Government broke ground on 6,036 new homes for social rent in Scotland last year, while official figures show that in England the number of social sector houses built has plummeted by more than 96% since the Tories came to power in 2010 to a mere 1,409. In 2009/10 the number was 39,402.
Meanwhile, the SNP set ambitious targets to build at least 50,000 new affordable homes in the course of this 2016-2021 parliament, 35,000 of which will be for social rent. The First Minister announced a further £25 million to build an additional 3,000 homes on top of this figure in her recent speech to SNP Conference.
Under SNP leadership, Scotland’s rate of social sector housing starts sits 328% higher than England’s under the Tories, or 44 times the rate per head of population.
Commenting, Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“The SNP is making significant strides to build new homes for Scotland – homes that people need and, crucially, ones they can afford. That’s fundamental to building the fairer, more prosperous Scotland that we all want to see.
“Last year we began building 328% more homes for social rent than south of the border – 44 times more homes per head of population in Scotland compared to England.
“The Tories aren’t just failing on social housing; they have an ideological aversion to building new homes for people on lower incomes who cannot afford to buy. Even Theresa May admits the UK government is failing to deliver. Meanwhile, the SNP Government is building at least 50,000 new affordable homes in this parliament, with the majority of these for social rent.
“Everyone in Scotland should have a safe, warm and affordable home. That’s central to our ambition.”
Social sector new starts in Scotland in 2017/18 = 6,036
England population 2017 = 55,268,067
Scotland population 2017 = 5,404,700
ENDS
