SNP under attack for 'appalling' drop in new homes despite declaring housing emergency

SNP ministers have been accused of having “no plan to deliver the homes Scotland needs” after new statistics revealed the lowest level of new properties completed for more than a decade. New statistics show that between April 2025 and March 2026, only 18,028 new homes were added to Scotland’s housing stock - eight per cent fewer than the previous year and the lowest level since 2014-15, excluding the Covid period when construction was halted.

As of March 2026, the number of vacant local authority homes increased by four per cent to 10,253, including stock that will be demolished or cannot be currently let as the properties need modernisation. The revelation comes despite the Scottish government declaring a national housing emergency in May 2024. The new statistics show that waiting lists for housing increased in nine of Scotland’s local authorities in 2025-26. The figures show that around 12 per cent of private rented households say they may have to move because of housing costs, compared to three per cent in the owner-occupied sector and five per cent of social rented households.

The Scottish government has pledged to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70 per cent designated for social rent. But as of June, only 36,500 homes have been completed towards the goal - with around 73,500 homes still needed to meet the flagship target. Campaigners are demanding SNP ministers bring forward action to ensure more homes are built. Shelter Scotland’s interim director, Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae, said: “Homelessness is not inevitable, but we cannot promise or blame our way out of the housing emergency.

We need to build our way out. “If we don’t deliver at least 15,693 social homes needed each year, thousands of families will remain trapped in limbo, with their health, wellbeing and chance to thrive impacted. “Politicians of all stripes need to step up if we want to end homelessness.” Maeve McGoldrick, head of policy at Crisis Scotland, added: “Fewer new homes, more empty council homes and 14 per cent fewer lets mean fewer doors opening for people who need them.

“We need empty homes back in use quickly and a properly funded social housebuilding programme. “But we can’t build our way out of this alone. Our Changing Course report, published today, shows that preventing homelessness before it happens is the most effective way to ease this pressure. Getting the new prevention duties right, with the investment to match, means fewer people reaching crisis point in the first place.” Scottish Labour housing spokesperson, Mark Griffin, warned that “people need secure, affordable homes”.

“Scotland is failing to build enough to meet demand”, he added. "The Scottish government must set out how it will boost housebuilding and help councils get empty properties back into use.” Scottish Conservative housing spokesman, James Adams, said: “Two years on from agreeing there is a housing emergency in Scotland, the SNP still have no plan to deliver the homes Scotland needs. “It is appalling that the number of homes added to Scotland’s housing stock is at its lowest in over a decade.”

He added: “Councils are drowning in red tape, thousands of families are trapped in temporary accommodation, and fewer homes are being made available while demand soars. “John Swinney must scrap the anti-development barriers, reverse the policies choking supply and get Scotland building again, because warm words and emergency declarations are no substitute for delivering homes.” Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson, Morven-May MacCallum, has also criticised SNP ministers over the sluggish progress.

She said: “Far too many Scots have nowhere to live or are paying through the nose in rent. “That will never change so long as housebuilding figures are going in the wrong direction. We need to be building more homes to bring down housing costs, as well as helping local authorities to bring thousands of vacant properties back into use.” SNP Social Justice and Housing, Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: "We recognise the challenges facing the new build sector, driven by international and domestic economic pressures, and we are using every lever at our disposal to accelerate housebuilding across Scotland.

"Despite this, Scotland continues to lead the rest of the UK in housebuilding relative to our population size. Our Affordable Housing Supply Programme is also improving, with approvals up 42 per cent and starts up 34 per cent in the year to June 2026. "Our new national housing agency, More Homes Scotland, will bring greater focus, coordination and ambition to unlock stalled developments and attract investment. Backed by a record £926 million budget this year, we remain focused on our target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032."