CIH Scotland reacts to latest housing statistics

The Scottish government has published its latest quarterly house building and affordable supply statistics for Scotland, showing a continued decline in the number of new starts and completions in the 12-month period to December 2025.

The figures show that there were 17,336 new homes completed across all sectors – a 13 per cent fall compared to the previous year. Housing starts also slipped by six per cent, with 14,999 new builds beginning construction in the same period.

Annual decreases were also reported for homes provided via the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, but in the last six months of 2025, increases in approvals (58 per cent increase, 1,153 homes) and starts (21 per cent increase, 543 homes) compared with the same period in 2024 were seen.

Commenting on the statistics, CIH Scotland’s national director Gillian McLees said: “As expected, the latest figures released today by the Scottish government show a continued decline in the delivery of new homes across Scotland in the last 12 months. This is a worrying trend and shows that more action is needed to address the housing emergency and provide the homes that Scotland so desperately needs.

“While there is some good news with increases to approvals and starts though the Affordable Housing Supply Programme over the last 6 months, our latest affordable housing research, published last year in partnership with SFHA and Shelter Scotland, shows that Scotland needs to deliver 15,693 social and affordable homes every year over the next five years to meet current housing need.

“As we count down to the Scottish parliamentary election, we are calling on the next Scottish government to prioritise the delivery of social housing and commit to the affordable housing target evidenced in our research.”