Scotland Delivers 100,000th Social Home as Affordable Housing Drive Accelerates
The Scottish Government has passed a major milestone — delivering over 100,000 new social homes since 2007, providing thousands of families across Scotland with warm, safe, and affordable places to live.
Latest official statistics confirm that 140,346 affordable homes have been completed over the past 18 years, of which 100,064 are for social rent. The achievement marks a defining moment in the government’s long-term commitment to tackling Scotland’s housing emergency and building stronger, fairer communities.
A Decade of Delivery on Affordable Homes
The figures demonstrate Scotland’s leadership in providing affordable housing at scale — even amid the economic headwinds caused by rising living costs, inflation, and Brexit-related supply chain pressures.
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan hailed the milestone as proof of the government’s determination to ensure everyone in Scotland has a secure home they can afford.
“Reaching 100,000 new social homes is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to supporting affordable housing across Scotland.
Social housing remains a cornerstone in our mission to tackle the housing emergency and eradicate child poverty. These homes have given thousands of families the foundation for a better future — warm, safe and affordable places to call their own.”
Tackling the Housing Emergency Head-On
Despite this progress, the Housing Secretary acknowledged that demand still outstrips supply, with inflation and construction costs posing serious challenges for the sector. Construction inflation alone has risen by up to 24% in recent years, placing strain on developers, councils, and housing associations alike.
To counter these pressures, Ms McAllan recently unveiled a bold new Housing Emergency Action Plan, underpinned by £4.9 billion in investment. The plan aims to deliver 36,000 additional affordable homes over the next four years, benefiting around 24,000 children and helping to ease housing shortages across urban and rural Scotland.
An extra £808 million has also been earmarked for this financial year to support the delivery of around 8,000 affordable homes, reinforcing the government’s commitment to sustained investment in housing supply.
A National Call to Action
“We know the scale of the challenge — but we also know what can be achieved when we work together,” Ms McAllan added.
“I am calling on partners across the public and private sectors to join us in delivering on Scotland’s housing ambitions. Together, we can ensure that every person, in every community, has access to a home that is secure, affordable, and fit for the future.”
