More affordable homes in Scotland

Between July 2009 and June 2010 there were 5,337 housing association and council flats and houses completed across Scotland, the second highest figure since 1982, and only exceeded by last year's record numbers.

Councils across Scotland started 624 new homes in the year to June 2010 compared with 337 the previous year, an 85 per cent increase.

In 2009-10, the recession-hit private sector new build completions, which reached 11,555, a decrease of 28% from the previous year.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said: "Despite continuing financial challenges faced by the Scottish Government and local authorities, I am pleased that we are maintaining the delivery of high numbers of affordable homes across the country.

"The investment the Scottish Government made last year, and continues to make, will help safeguard jobs, support the construction industry and keep the Scottish economy moving.

"The recession has clearly had an impact on private sector house building, which has slowed. That is regrettable and although the UK Government has chosen to slash planned funding for Scotland, this Government is determined to do all it can to stimulate house building activity.

"Everyone accepts that Scotland faces a tight squeeze on public finances. It is therefore imperative that the housing sector adopts fresh thinking and new ideas to support increased supply, enhance the quality of existing stock and improve efficiency

"The housing Discussion document we launched earlier this year, Housing: Fresh Thinking, New Ideas, poses fundamental questions about the way homes can be built, allocated, funded and managed in the future."