Scottish Housing Minister welcomes increase in housing supply

More than 22,000 homes have become available in the past year in Scotland.

Scottish Housing Minister welcomes increase in housing supply

Scottish Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has welcomed a 15% increase in Scotland’s supply of new housing but has warned that a no-deal Brexit could have a damaging effect on future growth.

More than 22,000 homes have become available in the past year in Scotland which is the sixth consecutive annual increase in total housing supply.

Stewart MP, who is the Scottish Ministerfor Local Government,Housingand Planning, said: “We want to ensure everyone has a warm affordable home and these figures show we are on target to reach delivering 50,000 affordable homes by 2021.

“However, I am deeply concerned that all our good work towards increasing Scotland’s housing supply could be significantly undermined by a no-deal Brexit.

“Private house builders are particularly vulnerable to the implications of Brexit.

“Construction material imports to the United Kingdom from European Union member states accounted for more than 60% of the total value of construction material imports to the United Kingdom in 2018.

“In addition, more than 7,000 EU nationals were employed in the Scottish construction sector in 2017.

“A no-deal Brexit poses significant risks to builders’ supply chains and the construction workforce in Scotland.

“Housing is yet another example of the deep damage that could be done to Scotland by a no-deal Brexit.”