Housing charity Shelter Scotland has found evidence of a ‘black hole’ at the heart of the new SNP Government’s commitment to build 6,000 new social homes in each year of the new Parliament.

It says that, instead of the 6,000 new social homes [council and housing association] planned this year, ministers have only allocated funds for 1550.

The ‘black hole’ in the plans is announced on the eve of a round-table summit which will see housing sector leaders meet to discuss housing supply in light of the new Holyrood administration.


Shelter Scotland is hosting the meeting which will take place under Chatham House rules.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “The size of the black hole at the heart of the Scottish Government’s plans for building new social homes is shocking.

“The numbers simply don’t add up. Instead of funding 6,000 new social homes as per its manifesto pledge, our analysis shows the Scottish Government has only made available enough money to build 1550 – at a push. That’s very worrying at a time when Scotland faces a crisis in the supply of new council and housing association homes.

“The Scottish Government needs to adopt a new mantra – build, protect, refurbish - build more social homes, protect people from losing their home and refurbish empty homes.”

(GK)