A special conference is to be held to discuss the impact of the government’s green energy targets on the delivery of housing in the future.

The reality of targets set by the Scottish government to cut the impact of climate change and carbon emissions is to be debated, as Scottish housing output has fallen to its lowest level since the Second World War.

The event will take place in Edinburgh on 31 October, with the keynote address being provided by Housing Minister Margaret Burgess.

It is being run by Homes for Scotland and will be the industry body’s first major conference. The organisation has called for "a flexible and realistic approach in relation to the cost, sustainability and supply challenges associated with the green agenda in such a fragile economy."


It has also challenged the impact of the proposed changes to building standards, claiming that new homes built today are 70% more efficient than those built in 1990.

Homes for Scotland Chief Executive Philip Hogg said: "Bringing together key players across all sectors involved in housing delivery, this conference provides a unique opportunity to explore alternative strategies which might offer more effective and cost-efficient solutions to achieve climate change targets for the benefit of Scotland as a whole.

"With the audience hearing from both the Housing Minister and a varied panel of experts in order to inform and challenge thinking on the way forward, those with an interest in this area should make sure they are part of the debate."

(IT)