FactCheck: the SNP’s target to build 110,000 affordable homes in Scotland

The Scottish National Party (SNP) promised to build 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 – with most of these being for social rent.

But is it on track to meet this target?

FactCheck takes a look.

SNP housing target ‘at risk’?

In 2021, the SNP promised to build “110,000 energy efficient, affordable homes by 2032 – at least 70 per cent of which will be in the social rented sector and 10 per cent in our remote, rural and island communities”.

Of course, we’re still some years off the 2032 deadline.

But a leaked document recently obtained by Labour – apparently comprising briefing notes meant for the SNP’s housing minister – shows the Scottish government privately describes the target as “at risk” and is considering pushing back the deadline.

This comes after the SNP-Green coalition government announced in February that it would cut the budget for delivering the target by 26 per cent. The Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland said this could have paid for “around 2,000 social homes, which would have supported those in greatest need”.

And official stats reveal that the number of affordable homes getting planning approval, as well as those where work has recently started, are at their lowest levels since 2014-15.

Housing Minister Paul McLennan told FactCheck: “The Scottish Government has delivered more than 128,000 affordable homes since April 2007 [mostly under a previous target] – over 90,000 of which were for social rent.

“We continue to do all we can in the context of multiple pressures, including rising construction costs, labour shortages, high inflation and cuts to our capital budget.

“We remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes, with at least 70 per cent for social rent, by 2032.”

He added that the Scottish government has “brought forward” a “review scheduled for 2026-27 to this year, which will concentrate on deliverability”.

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