Scottish Housing Market Review Q3 2023

10. Housing Supply

10.1. New Build

New housebuilding completions have increased since the Covid-19 restrictions on non-essential construction activity were eased in Q3 2020. There were 23,346 new build completions across all sectors in Scotland in the year to end Q2 2023, an increase of 6.8% (1,481 homes) on the previous year, and the highest year-to-end-Q2 figure since 2008. This is illustrated in Chart 10.1, which includes a breakdown of new build completions by sector. Meanwhile, there were 17,425 new build starts across all sectors over the same period, down by 11.8% (2,340) relative to the previous year, and the lowest year-to-end-Q2 figure since 2016.

Source: Scottish Government

10.2. Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP)

Chart 10.2 shows that the number of affordable homes delivered has increased since the restrictions on non-essential construction activity were eased in Q3 2020. 10,757 affordable housing completions were recorded over the year to Q2 2023, an increase of 12.4% (1,188 homes) compared to the year prior, and the highest annual figure since the start of the statistical series in 2000. However, over the same period approvals have fallen by 22.2% (1,724 homes) to 6,042, whilst starts have decreased by 2.5% to 7,124 homes.

Source: Scottish Government