Nicola Sturgeon will today (Wednesday) say that the SNP’s record on affordable housing stands head and shoulders above that of the other parties, as she pledges to deliver 100,000 affordable homes in Scotland over the next decade.
Highlighting how investment in Scotland is significantly higher than the rest of the UK – with more affordable homes being delivered as a result – she will say that Housing is key to delivering economic growth, tackling poverty and meeting Scotland’s climate targets.
Other key SNP housing commitments include investing £1.6bn in the next parliament to decarbonise the heating of homes and other buildings, and ensuring that by 2026 all new homes delivered by registered social landlords and local authorities will be zero emissions homes.
Speaking on a campaign visit to Dumbarton today, Nicola Sturgeon is expected to say:
“The SNP inherited a situation of chronic underinvestment in social housing – perhaps epitomised by the notorious 6 council houses built by the previous Labour/Lib Dem administration.
“We have made housing a top priority, and it will remain so for as long as the SNP is in government.
“In the last term, our investment was three times higher than the UK on a per-capita basis – and in each of the last two financial years we’ve actually delivered a greater number of social rented properties in Scotland than across the whole of England.
“But if re-elected, we plan to go further – and faster.
“As part of our 20-year housing strategy we’ll deliver 100,000 affordable homes over the next decade, and the £3.5bn we will invest during this parliament will support an estimated 14,000 jobs a year.
“We will also invest £1.6bn over the next parliament to decarbonise the way we heat our homes and other buildings – reducing emissions, tackling fuel poverty and creating new jobs.
“And by 2026, all new homes delivered by registered social landlords and local authorities will be zero emissions homes.
“The SNP record on affordable housing stands head and shoulders above that of other parties – and by giving both votes to the SNP on May 6th, people can elect a government which will prioritise greener, affordable housing to help support the economy, tackle poverty and meet our climate ambitions.”
