House building in Scotland nosedives after Nicola Sturgeon’s rent controls, figures show

But the lowest rates were recorded in Angus, Stirling, South Ayrshire, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, Argyll and Bute, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Clackmannanshire, Inverclyde and the Scottish Borders. Only 18 or fewer homes were completed per 10,000 people in these areas.

Paul McLennan, the SNP’s Housing Minister, said: “I recently outlined the Scottish Government’s plan to tackle the housing emergency with three key pillars forming part of our approach: more high quality, permanent homes, the right homes in the right places and a permanent home for everyone.”

He also blamed the UK Government, saying that the SNP administration’s capital funding was being cut by nearly 10 per cent.

Dire statistics

Jane Wood, the chief executive of the house building trade body Homes for Scotland, said: “On the basis of the figures released today, the people of Scotland deserve more than platitudes and excuses.

“Our own research also highlights the decline of [small and medium-sized] home builders and thousands of new homes now stalled across the country as a result of affordable housing budget cuts.”

Sally Thomas, the chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: “Today’s dire statistics should serve as yet another wake-up call to the Scottish Government about the extent of the housing emergency and the immediate challenges we face in delivering affordable rented housing.

“Starts and completions of new homes are down in every sector and it’s clear we are seeing a collapse in housebuilding.”