The number of new homes starting construction in Scotland last year fell to the lowest total in more than a decade, new figures have shown.
Scottish Government statistics showed work began on 14,955 properties – down 4% on the previous year to the smallest number since 2012-13.
The data also showed a total of 17,268 houses were completed in 2025-26 – 10% less than the previous year and the lowest total since 2016-17, apart from those years when the Covid-19 pandemic saw restrictions placed on the building sector.
As the figures were published, housing campaigners warned Scotland was “far short of what’s needed” to tackle the country’s housing emergency.
Richard Meade, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: “Despite Scotland last month entering the third year of its housing emergency, today’s statistics show that housing completions continue to falter whilst more families wait in desperate need of a safe, warm and affordable home.”
So far, 35,368 homes have been delivered towards the Scottish Government’s target of providing 110,000 affordable homes by 2032.
Work began on 7,421 new affordable homes last year, with the figures showing 6,832 properties completed – with these including homes for social rent by either councils or housing associations, and homes for either affordable rent or ownership.
While the number of affordable properties that were completed was down by 8% on the previous year, the number of starts was up by 37%.
Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae, interim director at housing charity Shelter Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government has broken its promise. Building social homes must become a national mission of the very highest importance.”
He added: “Homelessness is caused by the political choice not to build enough social homes.
“Choosing not to build enough homes is choosing to leave children in temporary accommodation, choosing to let rough sleeping rise, choosing to let homelessness services fail just at the time when far-right voices are trying to weaponise the issue.”
While he said there were “some welcome signs of progress” – with social housing starts at their highest level since 2021-22 – he insisted “the pace of delivery still falls far short of what’s needed”.
The SNP must wake up to the crisis unfolding on its watch and deliver the action needed to get Scotland building – from reforming our planning system to providing fair funding for local councils
Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin was also critical of the Government, saying: “Scotland’s housing emergency is causing misery for families all over the country and this fall in housebuilding will fan the flames of the crisis.”
The MSP added: “The SNP is supposed to be boosting housebuilding by 10% a year, but so far things are going in the wrong direction.
“The SNP must wake up to the crisis unfolding on its watch and deliver the action needed to get Scotland building – from reforming our planning system to providing fair funding for local councils.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government continues to deliver on affordable housing – with approvals up 42% and starts increasing by 37% compared to last year.
“There has also been a 25% increase in new build starts for social sector housing in the same period.
“Overall, since 2007 we have delivered 146,000 affordable homes. Scotland has delivered 45% more affordable homes than England and 69% more than Wales, per head of population.
“The Scottish Government is delivering on our record investment of up to £4.9 billion over the next four years – which will support delivery of around 36,000 affordable homes, providing a warm, safe home for up to 24,000 children.”
The new agency More Homes Scotland, set up by ministers in a bid to accelerate new housebuilding, “will bring simplicity and scale to this work, enhancing delivery and maximising savings”, the spokesperson added.