There were 18,182 new build homes completed across all sectors over the year ending June 2018, an increase of 4%, or 695 homes, on the previous year. Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released the latest Quarterly Housing Statistics for Scotland, which presents the latest quarterly information on new build housing and affordable housing supply, along with the latest annual figures on long term empty properties and second homes. The 4% increase in all sector new build completions in the 12 months to end June 2018 included increases in housing association completions (25% or 618 homes) and local authority completions (25% or 306 homes), whilst private-led completions fell by 229 homes (2%). The total number of social sector completions (housing association and local authority starts combined) increased by 924 homes (25%). There were 19,903 all sector new build starts in the 12 months to end June 2018, a figure which is 1,121 homes (6%) higher than the number of completions in the same period, but which is a decrease of 1,231 homes (6%) on the 20,534 starts in the previous year. Private-led starts fell by 1,593 homes (11%) and housing association approvals decreased by 215 homes (4%), whilst local authority starts increased by 577 homes (48%). The total number of social sector starts (housing association and local authority starts combined) increased by 362 homes (6%). Statistical News Release Chart Key Points New Build Housing – All Sectors New Build Housing – Private-led Housing New Build Housing – Social Sector Housing (Housing Association and Local Authority combined) New Build Housing – Housing Association Homes New Build Housing – Local Authority Homes Affordable Housing Supply – up to end September 2018 Long Term Empty Properties and Second Homes Background Note that the new build starts figures quoted in this Statistical News Release contain information on approvals rather than starts for housing associations. This is because the data held on approvals for housing association new builds is considered to be a more robust measure than the data held on starts. An approval is the point in time at which Scottish Government funding is granted through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. Further information on this is available in the explanatory document providing background information on the quarterly statistics. The Affordable Housing Supply Programme statistics include off-the-shelf purchases and rehabilitations as well as new build. The publication, containing details of new house building, the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and sales of social sector housing, can be found at this address: http://www.gov.scot/ISBN/9781787814417 Background information including Excel tables and an explanatory note on the Quarterly Housing Statistics can be found in the Housing Statistics webpages. The Summary Report on the Scottish Household Survey local authority level housing tables is available at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/SHSLA. Housing Association and most Local Authority led new build activity is funded through Scottish Government funding programmes. Several changes to these funding programmes in recent years have affected both the trends and seasonal quarterly pattern of new build approvals, so care should be taken when making comparisons over time. These same changes will also impact on the Affordable Housing Supply Programme. The supply statistics break down new build construction activity into private-led and social sector starts and completions, with the social sector further broken down between local authority and registered social landlord (housing association). The figures are as recorded by Local Authority administrative systems and the Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) system. Private sector construction activity includes not only homes built for private sale but also some homes which are used in the affordable housing sector and self-build activity by local builders. Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/About.
Scotland saw a 4% rise in the number of completed new build homes to 18,182 over the year to June 2018, according to the Scottish government’s Quarterly Housing Statistics. The figures included a 25% increase for new builds by housing associations and local authorities, against a 2% fall for private completions. As for construction starts during the year, the numbers were ahead of completions by 6% but down by the same amount compared to 2017. Private and housing association starts both fell, although local authority starts increased.