Scottish Government to launch ‘More Homes Scotland’ to boost housing delivery
It will focus on large-scale affordable housing, rural and island homes, releasing land, and enabling infrastructure work to unlock stalled sites.
The Scottish Government plans to set up a national housing agency called More Homes Scotland, aiming to speed up housebuilding across Scotland.
The agency is expected to start operating from 2027-28 and be fully functional by 2028-29, depending on the Scottish Parliament election result.
It will focus on large-scale affordable housing, rural and island homes, releasing land, and enabling infrastructure work to unlock stalled sites.
The agency will also work closely with the Scottish National Investment Bank to make better use of private finance.
A co-design process will be led by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing, working with local authorities and the Scottish National Investment Bank.
An update is due to be given to the Scottish Parliament in March.
First Minister John Swinney, said: “Since 2007, the Scottish Government has supported the delivery of 141,000 affordable homes in Scotland, including 101,000 for social rent – proportionately far more than other parts of the UK.
“We have helped thousands of families to have a warm, safe and affordable place to call home.
“However, Scotland is facing a housing emergency. We recognise the difficulty that many Scots – in particular young Scots - have finding a home they can afford to rent or buy.”
Swinney added: “We have firm foundations and have recently stepped up our efforts.
“The 2026-27 draft Scottish Budget includes the single largest funding allocation to affordable housing since records began in 1989.
“We have committed to invest up to £4.9 billion over the next four years, backed by a record £4.1 billion of public investment, helping to deliver 36,000 affordable homes and providing a place to live for around 24,000 children.”
He said: “This is providing record funding and more multi-year certainty than ever before.
“This, along with other policy measures, has given confidence to the investment community.
“However, we must have a public sector delivery model that can rise to our enhanced ambitions.”
He added: “A new national agency will mean less duplication, greater expertise, increased efficiencies, and making our substantial investment go further.
“It will also provide enhanced support to our local authority partners and we will work in partnership with the Scottish National Investment Bank to attract more commercial investment.
“It is a new body that will offer simplicity, scale and speed – boosting delivery, and maximising savings, as part of our commitment to a decade of public sector modernisation and reform.
“More Homes Scotland will meet the needs of this time. It will deliver – for a new generation of Scots – new homes more quickly, more affordably, in more liveable, climate friendly communities.”
David Ritchie, CEO at the Scottish National Investment Bank, said: “The Bank has invested more than £130 million in housing to date, with a robust pipeline of more potential housing investments.
“We welcome More Homes Scotland being established to bring momentum in finding housing solutions.
“As a mission-led investor, the Bank makes commercial investments that drive long-term societal and economic growth for Scotland.”
Ritchie added: “Our ‘Place’ mission is focused on improving communities, and a good home is a key tenet of that.
“Working with private investors and homebuilders we have developed innovative approaches to unlock finance, getting much-needed homes built across Scotland.”
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