Scottish government to unveil budget amidst housing crisis

Scottish government to unveil budget amidst housing crisis

0:01 AM, 19th December 2023, About 5 months ago 3

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The Scottish government will unveil its draft budget today, with industry bodies calling for legislation to tackle the housing emergency in Scotland.

This year, housing emergencies have been declared in Edinburgh, Argyll and Bute and Glasgow.

Propertymark is urging the government to increase the supply of homes and support people with their energy bills this winter.

This will be a tricky budget

David Alexander, the chief executive of DJ Alexander Scotland, says more social homes need to be built in Scotland to tackle the housing emergency.

He said: “There must be a broad range of initiatives to encourage more housebuilding in the private sector, a substantial increase in the number of social houses being built, support for the private rented sector (PRS) at a time of unprecedented demand, and greater financial incentives to first-time buyers and homeowners.

“The scale of the problem can be seen in the latest statistics. New housebuilding in all sectors starting in the financial year of 2022/23 were at 18,890 while the figure for the second quarter of this year was just 4,268 – a reduction of 25.5% on the same quarter in 2022.

“We need to create an environment in which housebuilding companies are actively encouraged to build in Scotland and increase the number of homes they develop to keep up with demand and ease rising house prices.”

He added: “While no-one doubts that this will be a tricky Budget it will only be by resolving many of the serious issues in Scotland’s housing sector that we will take the first steps in building growth in the economy and producing a more effective and equitable society.”

Action is needed to address the housing emergency

Propertymark says urgent action is needed now by the Scottish government to tackle the housing crisis.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Propertymark and our member agents recognise the key challenges that the Scottish government faces with continued constraints on public finances, challenges from the Covid, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis.

“However, action is needed to address the housing emergency in Scotland and increase the number of places and homes for people to buy and rent as well as support the move towards decarbonisation and help reduce energy bills in people’s homes.”


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Comments

NewYorkie

10:54 AM, 19th December 2023, About 5 months ago

Don't forget peace for all, and the ending of poverty...

Dylan Morris

11:11 AM, 19th December 2023, About 5 months ago

“support the move towards decarbonisation” …… even Propertymark have been brainwashed with this nonsense,

Mr.A

14:31 PM, 19th December 2023, About 5 months ago

Trying to upstage and out spend the West minster fools has left Scotland in this dire situation thanks to the snp and Greens.. fools

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