The decisive general election outcome offers new opportunities and refreshed political choices.  It is very encouraging to see the new UK government placing a major emphasis on housing delivery and the planning system, with the new Chancellor making announcements on these within 72 hours.  But, as devolved matters, what, if anything, does this mean for the home building sector here in Scotland?

I hope at least one thing is for sure:  with the latest Ipsos poll revealing the lowest ranking of trust in politicians at only 9% and Scotland clearly voting for change, things must be done differently.

Will the Scottish Government listen to the voices across Scotland who are saying unequivocally “it’s not working for us” and recalibrate to change the alarming downwards trajectory on housing numbers affecting its welcome ambitions for inclusive growth, an end to poverty and an increase in the country’s social and economic wellbeing?

Will it bravely acknowledge that the root causes lie not only in UK capital budgets but in an underinvestment in our planning regime and a regulatory environment that fails to recognise the unintended consequences of policies created with poor understanding of the costs, the impacts on consumers and, critically, on those organisations, both private and public who build the much-needed homes of all tenures that we require?  I sincerely pray that it does.

With another 18 months before the Scottish 2026 elections, there IS time for impactful change.

Homes for Scotland and its member companies want to work with government at all levels and across the political parties to inform, educate and input into creating the right regulatory and investment landscape.  If we do this with strong leadership, evidenced and informed policy making and measured consultations and collaboration with industry, perhaps we can at last look to reverse the year-on-year decline in housing numbers (latest figures show significant falls in both housing starts and completions at 15% and 17% respectively) and address the shortfall of more than 100,000 homes that has accumulated since 2008.

In the many post-election articles I read over the weekend, somewhere I saw a quote that said “yesterday’s strategies will not win tomorrows battles”.  We need to break through the historic comfort zones, show intelligence and effect impactful collaborations for this dire situation to change for Scotland’s population and communities.

Change brings hope but hope in turn needs clear actions and a strong will to deliver the change we need to see.

8 July 2024