Housing emergency: New build social rented homes plummet in Glasgow

Housebuilding for social rented homes in Glasgow has plummeted with last year the second lowest for new build completions in a quarter of a century.

The official Scottish housing figures show that in Glasgow in 2023/24 there were 558 new homes for social rent completed.

Apart from 2020/21, when the covid pandemic lockdown shut construction sites, it was the lowest number since 1998/99 when it was 287 homes.

(Image: newsquest)

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Across Scotland, there was also a drop in new homes built.

The Glasgow Times End the Homeless Hotel Shame campaign has highlighted the hundreds of people stuck in hotels and B&B each night.

Together with Govan Law Centre, the campaign is calling for more investment in social housing to ensure there is enough supply to get people out of temporary accommodation and into settled permanent homes.

It would allow people to spend as little time as possible in hotels and B&Bs.

Glasgow is one of several councils to have declared a housing emergency, with rising levels of homelessness.

The number of new build homes started last year in Glasgow was 354, also the second lowest in 25 years.

Glasgow City Council is responsible for finding emergency and temporary accommodation for homeless people.

The council, however, does not have any housing stock and relies on hotels and B&Bs for emergency provision and housing associations for temporary accommodation.

In April there were more than 7000 people in temporary accommodation including more than 2700 children.

Organisations representing housing associations and housebuilders said more investment is needed if more homes are to be provided.

Sally Thomas, chief executive of Scottish Federation of Housing Asociations, said: “Today’s dire statistics should serve as yet another wake-up call to the Scottish Government about the extent of the housing emergency and the immediate challenges we face in delivering affordable rented housing.

“Starts and completions of new homes are down in every sector and it’s clear we are seeing a collapse in housebuilding.

“In Glasgow, except for in 2020-21 when building had ground to a halt due to the pandemic, there were fewer completions last year than at any time since 1999.

“Glasgow’s housing associations are key to delivering the warm, high quality, affordable homes which will end the city’s housing emergency, but successive Scottish Government cuts are threatening their ability to deliver."

(Image: SFHA)

Jane Wood, chief executive of Homes for Scotland, which represents members delivering the majority of the country’s new homes of all tenures, said: “It has now been over a month since the Scottish Government finally acknowledged the housing emergency which is crippling the social wellbeing and aspirations of the people of Scotland.

“On the basis of the figures released today, the people of Scotland deserve more than platitudes and excuses.  Our own research also highlights the decline of SME home builders and thousands of new homes now stalled across the country as a result of affordable housing budget cuts.”

Mark Griffin, Scottish Labour housing spokesperson said “Scotland is in the grips of a devastating housing emergency,  from soaring rents to unaffordable mortgages to record levels of homelessness.”

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative housing spokesperson, said: “These statistics should be a source of shame for SNP ministers, who have been asleep at the wheel, while the number of new homes being built fell dramatically.”

The Scottish Government said it has suffered a 10% cut in its budget from Westminster.

(Image: newsquest)

Paul McLennan, Scottish Government housing minister, said: “Since 2007, Scotland has delivered more than 131,000 affordable homes, with more than 93,000 of those being for social rent. We will continue to build on that record with almost £600 million of investment in the Affordable Housing Supply programme in 2024-25.

“While we remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, our capital block grant is being reduced by nearly 10%, a loss of more than £1.3 billion by 2027-28. Likewise, our Financial Transactions budget – key to delivering affordable housing – has been cut by 62%.”