Kevin Murphy

Kevin joined Homes for Scotland (HFS) in February 2024 as Head of Planning. Kevin is a Chartered Town Planner with over 20 years experience in both the private and public sector and is focused on supporting members through the rapidly changing national and local planning landscape at a time when the delivery of housing hasn’t been more important.

Prior to joining HFS, Kevin spent 8 years as Planning Manager at Persimmon Homes West Scotland where he was responsible for obtaining planning consents and both prepared and co-ordinated local and national consultation responses. Kevin also worked as Planning Manager for Edinburgh Airport and in development management at both the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Borders Council.

“I have been involved in delivering new homes and places on both sides of the planning process from approving (and refusing) applications to gaining consent for over 4,000 homes whilst with Persimmon. I am now keen to help shape the planning system to ensure that the system functions to allow the delivery of more homes for Scotland. Working in collaboration I am sure that we can achieve this”.

“My housing journey started shortly after graduating, where my then fiancée, now wife, and I decided to buy a 2-bed mid-terrace house on the edge of Edinburgh. At the time 100% mortgages where available and we stretched ourselves financially to get on the ladder. This was the pre-recession world where houses were selling fast and prices were spiralling. I doubt we’d have been able to cover a deposit had this been required at the time.

After renovating the property we sold it 3 years later for almost twice what we paid for it. A lot of this increase was probably the market, but it helped us purchase a 3 bed semi-detached family home on the same estate. As with the first house we undertook a lot of work to make it a home.

When two became four our priorities changed and we moved out to South Queensferry over 13 years ago for a change of pace and more space (for less money). The property market is ever changing and I was lucky to get on the housing ladder when I did. I am however now concerned about what my children’s housing journey could be and am keen, through my role with Homes for Scotland to help people get the right home for them.”