Scotland is setting out its stall to become a beacon for housing investment, with new proposals designed to unlock millions in fresh funding for homes across the country.
An independent group of experts has published a series of recommendations intended to give investors the confidence to back Scotland’s housing market, spanning social, affordable and private sectors.
At the heart of the Housing Investment Taskforce report is a simple ambition: to bring in new sources of funding beyond traditional public finance and create the right conditions for long-term growth.
The proposals include attracting alternative funds for affordable housing, expanding shared home ownership options and encouraging public bodies to adopt a more entrepreneurial approach.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan welcomed the findings and underlined his personal commitment to driving the plans forward.
“It is my ambition, shared by the members of the Housing Investment Taskforce, to make Scotland the best place for housing investment,” he said.
“The report has identified a range of actions to support more investment across all tenures of the housing system to meet Scotland’s growth potential.”
He confirmed that the Scottish Government will now press ahead with the recommendations as part of its Programme for Government, working closely with the taskforce and wider partners to help boost investor confidence and deliver more homes.
The proposals come as Scotland faces ongoing challenges in housing availability and affordability, with many communities calling for fresh solutions to increase supply.
James Blakey, Planning Director at Moda Group, praised the collaborative work behind the report and said bold action was now required.
“Addressing the housing emergency needs bold, imaginative and concrete actions,” he said.
“We are proud to have collaborated with the Housing Minister and the taskforce over the last year to shape these.
“Working in partnership to create market certainty and viability is key to attracting crucial investment into Scotland so we can build the new homes people want and need.”
Karen Campbell, Communications Director at Springfield, echoed the sense of optimism around the proposals.
“The taskforce’s report is clear on the value in building confidence, supporting new partnerships and creating the economic opportunity to unlock new and existing investment in Scotland,” she said.
“Working together we can now take those actions forward to deliver more homes across all tenures.”
The report’s publication signals a renewed determination to tackle Scotland’s housing needs head on, with the government, industry and investors all being urged to work together and seize the moment.
