Housebuilding on the rise in Scotland according to latest figures
The total number of new homes started in the year to December 2012 increased by two per cent from the previous year - the first increase in a calendar year since 2006 - official statistics have confirmed today.
A total of 13,541 new homes were started in Scotland compared to 13,310 in the year to December 2011.
There were 10,215 private sector led new build starts for the year to end December 2012, a four per cent jump from the year to end December 2011. It is the first time more than 10,000 starts have been achieved since 2008.
There was an 18 per cent fall in the number of annual new social sector starts down from the 3,391 starts in the year to end March 2012 to 2,781 in the year to end March 2013.
Not included in those social sector figures were 803 homes started under schemes such as, Mid-Market Rent, National Housing Trust Initiative and rural schemes.
For council house starts alone, there were 1,161 starts in the year to end March 2013, up by 45% on the 798 starts in the year to end March 2012.
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: "I am encouraged by these figures.
"Although operating conditions remain very challenging for Scotland’s house building industry, these latest statistics are a step in the right direction that help our economy, creating and supporting jobs.
"We are now two years into our five year target of delivering 30,000 additional affordable homes - and we are making good progress towards meeting it - backed by investment of almost £860 million in the current 3 years.
"We are also continuing to support first-time buyers and the private sector in general through investment in shared equity schemes.
"In addition, in response to the demand for more from councils and developers, a further procurement round of the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) - which is already delivering over 1000 new affordable homes across Scotland – has been launched."
