MSP Jackie Baillie has called on the SNP Government to prioritise house-building amidst a shortage of socially-rented homes.

It comes after new figures revealed that the value of work generated by building homes has slumped in Scotland.

The output value for the construction of new housing in Scotland fell by 17.5 per cent from January to March 2024, when compared with the same quarter the previous year.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that across the UK as a whole, the value of new housing dropped by 10.3 per cent, less than the Scottish figure.

The value of housing output in Scotland has dropped by 19.5 per cent, compared with the same quarter pre-pandemic (January to March 2020), compared to an increase in the UK figure.

Three construction companies with large contracts for new developments in Scotland, including social homes, went bust earlier this year.

Meantime, the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency in May after it could no longer keep up with waiting list demand for social housing.

West Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute authorities had earlier declared their own housing crises after availability of properties slumped.

Almost 6,000 were at one point languishing on the waiting list for socially-rented homes in West Dunbartonshire, while the authority also had to return to using B&B accommodation for homeless households due to the lack of properties.

Meantime, funding for the Affordable Homes Supply Programme has been cut and targets have been u-turned.

Bellsmyre’s regeneration slowed earlier this year when the Scottish Government put the brakes on previously agreed funding to create new properties in the Dumbarton estate, forcing landlords Caledonia Housing to scale back delivery.

The new UK Government Chancellor Rachel Reeves made house building targets a priority when she set out her agenda for government, with a pledge to build 1.5million homes in England over the course of the Parliament.

However, Scotland relies on the SNP government to deliver in this area. 

Dumbarton MSP Jackie said: “Scotland has faced a housing emergency for some time.  It is clear to everyone that action is required yet housebuilding output in Scotland has fallen even further than the UK overall.

“Building homes should be a priority, but the Affordable Housing budget has been slashed and the housebuilding industry is crumbling, at a time when first-time buyers are increasingly locked out of the housing market and growing families are struggling to get the space they need.”