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Research reveals ‘alarming reduction’ in SME home building

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Research reveals ‘alarming reduction’ in SME home building

New research has revealed an “alarming“ reduction in the small and medium (SME) home building sector in Scotland.

According to a report published by representative body Homes for Scotland (HFS), the proportion of new homes sold by those building between three and 49 homes per annum has fallen from around 40% in 2017 to 20% in 2023.




In the context of what is now a national housing emergency – and at a time when 28% of Scottish households (693,000) are in some form of housing need – HFS chief executive Jane Wood said: “This research fills a significant data gap and is essential if we are to develop evidence-based policy to effectively address the housing emergency.

“Given the vital role which SME home builders have to play in Scotland’s housing ecosystem, it shows alarming reductions in terms of market share and the number of companies which have been dissolved.

“This clearly has capacity implications for the delivery of much-needed new homes of all tenures.“

The research found that SME home builders are key to unlocking the brownfield sites which the Scottish Government has said it wants to prioritise.

“SME home builders have particular challenges in relation to the viability of their operations, not least in relation to economies of scale, ever increasing regulation and the upfront costs associated with residential development,“ said Wood. “Above all, however, the planning and consenting systems are having a hugely detrimental impact, especially in relation to the speed of processing and resourcing. This is a hugely frustrating state of affairs.”

Recommendations for national and local governments to act upon to support the SME home building sector include:

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