Social sector new housebuilding

The social sector housing (local authority and housing association units combined) accounted for just over a quarter (24%) of all new build homes completed in the year to the end of September 2024.

Social sector completions (4,772) in the year to the end of September 2024 were down 26% (-1,651 homes) from the previous year. There were 3,071 starts in the social sector, with no change from the year before (5 homes). Completions were the lowest since the year to end of September 2017 (excluding 2020 where Covid-19 impacted housebuilding) and starts (which were similar to 2023) were at the lowest levels when looking at data from the past 20 years.

Chart 3: Social sector new build housing, Scotland, 2004 to 2024 (year to end September).

Chart 3 shows the number of local authority and housing association homes started and completed each year since 2005 (year to end of September). In 2024 there were 1,538 local authority led completions and 1,221 starts. There were 3,234 housing association led completions and 1,850 starts.

Between 2023 and 2024 (year to end September) local authority led starts increased (34%, 309 homes) and housing association starts decreased (-14%, - 304 homes). There were decreases in both local authority led and housing association completions (-18%, - 347 homes; -29%, -1,304 homes).

Map C below shows the rates of social sector new build completions in each local authority area for the year to the end of September 2024 per 10,000 of the population.

Map C: New build housing – social sector completions: rates per 10,000 population, in the year to the end of September 2024

Social sector new completion build rates were highest in East Lothian, Midlothian and Aberdeen City with all having rates of over 24 homes per 10,000 population.

There were four local authorities who built no social sector homes in the year to end of September 2024 (Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and North Ayrshire).

Local authority new build rates were highest in Midlothian and Aberdeen City, both having rates of over 18 homes per 10,000 population. Seven local authorities built no local authority homes in the year to the end of September 2024 (Angus, Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Shetland Islands, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian). This excludes the 6 local authorities that transferred their stock to housing associations so do not build new local authority houses (Argyll & Bute, Dumfries & Galloway, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Na h-Eileanan Siar and Scottish Borders).

Housing association new build rates were highest in Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders and West Lothian with all having rates of over 14 homes per 10,000 population. Seven local authorities built no housing association homes in the year to the end of September 2024 (Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Orkney, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire).

The latest quarterly data and comparison to the corresponding quarter in the previous year are shown in the ‘Quarterly Comparisons’ section. Timeseries data along with local authority breakdowns are contained in the supporting Excel tables.