66 new affordable homes were built in Orkney last year, 40 of these are for social rent. In Scotland as a whole  9,317 were built. This is a 25% increase since 2016.

The number of completed homes for rent in Scotland increased by 16% from last year.

Housing Statistics for Scotland Quarterly Update: New Housebuilding and Affordable Housing Supply (published 10 March 2020)

Local MSP Maree Todd, SNP,  has welcomed new figures that show 66 of new build affordable homes were completed in Orkney last year.

 Maree Todd said:

“Having a home to call your own really matters – that’s why the SNP Government has made the delivery of thousands of new affordable homes a priority.

“Just last year alone, we’ve seen 66 new affordable homes completed in Orkney, 40 of which are for social rent.

“On top of our commitment to deliver 50,000 affordable homes, we’re helping first-time buyers here in Orkney get on the property ladder by lending them a chunk of their deposit.

“I’m proud that this SNP Government is getting on with the day-job, and is quite literally, building for the future of Scotland.”

Annual all-sector new housebuilding starts and completions in Scotland have both increased substantially in the latest year, with the number of starts now higher than levels seen in 2008 (years to end September)

Annual all-sector new housebuilding starts and completions have both increased substantially in the latest year, with the number of starts now higher than levels seen in 2008 (years to end September)

21,805 new build homes were completed across all sectors in Scotland last year which was an increase of 16%, or 2,972 homes, on the previous year, and the highest number of homes completed since 2008.

The total number of homes started in the social sector across both housing associations and local authorities increased by 360 homes (5%).

The Scottish Government affordable housing supply programme accounted for 9,317 homes this includes off-the-shelf purchases and rehabilitations as well as new builds. This is an increase of 1%, or 61 homes, on the previous year, and is the highest annual figure since the start of the series in 2000.

Comparing numbers of affordable housing built across the UK as a whole is not straightforward as different schemes are used, however, Scotland had the highest proportion of homes in the social sector in 2018 (22% of homes).

Past figures show the following:

As of April 2018, there were about 5 million houses in the social sector in the UK. There were:

• England: 4.13 million homes in the social sector (April 2018)
• Scotland: 597,000 homes in the social sector (March 2018)
• Wales: 239,000 homes in the social sector (March 2018)
• Northern Ireland: 121,000 homes in the social sector (Collected May to November 2016

Over the last ten years, on a per person basis, Scotland has delivered more affordable homes than other UK countries

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – Affordable housing supply, Scottish Government – Affordable housing supply, Welsh Government – Affordable housing provision, Department for Communities – Northern Ireland Housing Statistics, Office for National Statistics – Population estimates

For more information on comparisons across the UK click on this link: Comparing affordable housing in the UK April 2008 to March 2018

Reporter: Fiona Grahame