THE latest housing statistics for Scotland released today (Wednesday 30th May 2012), show a fall in the number of affordable homes built last year, which will only fall further without action to prioritise new affordable housing, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said.
Says a spokesperson: “The total number of housing association completions in the financial year 2011-12 decreased by seven per cent compared to total completions in the financial year 2010-11 (from 5,111 to 4,776).
“In total, there were 6,882 completions in the financial year 2011-12, including council completions, under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme – a five per cent reduction on the previous year. (1)”
Maureen Watson, director of Policy at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said:
“These figures bear out the SFHA’s contention that the number of new genuinely affordable homes will fall. Completions by associations and co-operatives are already down seven per cent on last year.
“The fact remains that, the current level of government grant per unit is not going to enable our members to continue to build at current rates into the future, particularly in rural areas where costs are higher.
“We recognise the government recently tweaked the benchmarks for rural and green schemes, but the delivery of genuinely affordable new homes remains highly challenging.
“Associations are finding it much harder to access bank lending at reasonable rates, and their balance sheets are being hit by the impact of the welfare reforms and the need to provide more support to tenants.
“Continuing to build at low grant levels is not financially viable – several of our members have already stopped developing, and more may follow suit.
“While we don’t doubt the Scottish Government’s commitment to providing more affordable housing, we do want them to understand the huge pressures on housing associations and co-operatives, who have continued to deliver as many homes as they possibly can with less public subsidy.
“There is a serious shortage of quality affordable housing across Scotland, with approximately 335,000 households on waiting lists (2). We understand there is a real constraint on capital funding at present and we back the Government’s call to the UK Chancellor to unlock more funds. Investing in housing will meet social need and provide an undoubted economic boost.”
ends
For further information, contact Claire Munro on t: 0141 567 6244 m: 07771926778 or e: cmunro@sfha.co.uk
Visit our website at www.sfha.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter @sfha_hq
Find us on Facebook SFHA- We’re Housing Scotland
NOTES:
1) The web tables and further information on Housing and Regeneration statistics in Scotland can be accessed through the Housing Statistics for Scotland home page: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS
2) Statistics supplied to SFHA by the Scottish Housing Regulator (5 July 2011) based on data in the 2009-10 Annual Performance and Statistical Return.
3) The SFHA was established in 1975 and has around 170 members providing affordable housing and wider community services in Scotland, as well as a further 200 commercial members. The SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance.
4) The SFHA is the voice of the principal builders and managers of new affordable housing for rent in Scotland. Housing Associations own and manage around 40 per cent of the country’s affordable rented housing stock, over a quarter of a million homes across Scotland.
5) Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by the SFHA. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmeidascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Claire Munro
Phone: 0141 567 6244
Email: cmunro@sfha.co.uk
Website: http://www.sfha.co.uk
