New build completions dropped by 4% in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter in 2007 (from 5,720 to 5,480).

According to the latest Housing Statistics for Scotland completions for the 12 months to September 2008 were 7% lower than for the previous 12 month period, dropping from 25,220 to 23,400.

However, completions figures are still broadly in line with previous years.

Following a peak in 2006-07, then a slight decrease in 2007-08, figures for new build starts now show a marked decline, falling from 5,590 in July-September 2007 to 3,190 in July-September 2008, a drop of 43%.


The private sector has been particularly affected, with the number of private starts in this quarter (2,860) lower than at any time since 1987.

Housing association starts in July-September 2008 have decreased when compared to the same quarter in the previous year (from 550 to 320), however, figures for the most recent 12 month period remain broadly in line with previous years.

Construction of new council housing has increased in recent quarters, with 450 starts since the beginning of 2007-08, compared to 180 in the previous seven years.

Midlothian, East Lothian, Orkney Islands and Aberdeen City have each begun to build new council housing, which resulted in 70 completions in Midlothian and one in Orkney Islands in the third quarter of 2008.

The numbers of sales to sitting tenants by public authorities continue to show a declining trend since the short-lived increase in 2002 prior to the introduction of modernised Right to Buy legislation.

The latest figures for July-September 2008 (907, excluding local authorities with total stock transfers) confirm this trend with a decrease for the fourth consecutive quarter. This represents a drop of 44% relative to the period July-September 2006.

(GK/JM)