Charities call on Scottish Government to ‘build like Burnham’ on council housing

A coalition of charities have called on the Scottish Government to “build like Burnham” and commit to delivering funding for more council housing.

Homeless Network Scotland, which is made up of 40 organisations in the sector, wants to see at least 15,700 quality affordable homes completed each year in order to end the housing emergency.

It comes after Andy Burnham pledged the “biggest council house building programme since the post-war period”.

The coalition of charities is calling on the Scottish Government to commit to matching the Prime Minister’s ambition and ensure that any additional funding as a result of Barnett consequentials are spent on council housing.

Barnett consequentials are additional money which the Scottish Government receives when the UK Government increases spending south of the border.

Holyrood formally declared a nationwide housing emergency in May 2024.

The Scottish Government has a target to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032.

Maggie Brunjes, chief executive of Homeless Network Scotland, said those in the housing and homelessness sector had been encouraged by Mr Burnham’s commitment.

She said: “Scotland’s stalled, social housing program means there are nearly 250,000 people on housing, waiting lists while councils continue to spend tens of millions of pounds just to keep people in the limbo of temporary accommodation including costly, poor quality hotels and B&Bs.”

She continued: “It is time for Scotland to also now Build like Burnham and deliver the 15,693 quality social homes every year of this new Parliament that research shows is needed to meet the scale of the challenge.

“If Andy Burnham’s investment in housing leads to more Barnett funding for Holyrood then the Scottish Government must also commit to putting every penny of that towards the existing social housing budget and move towards the £8.8 billion that sector leaders are clear is needed to meet the level of homebuilding required.

“The housing emergency requires an emergency response but far too much public money continues to be spent on temporary accommodation and responding to crisis after it has already happened.

“Homelessness is not inevitable. We know what works and this is now a critical moment for ministers in Holyrood to scale up on their ambitions and double down on delivery.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is continuing to make strong progress on affordable housing, with approvals and starts all increasing significantly compared to last year.

“We remain committed to our target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032.

“Since 2007 we have delivered well over 100,000 affordable homes for social rent, including tens of thousands of new council homes. Scotland also continues to outperform England and Wales on affordable housebuilding per head of population.

“We are providing record investment over the next four years to support tens of thousands more affordable homes, giving thousands of children a warm, safe place to live.

“Our new More Homes Scotland agency will bring simplicity and scale to this work, enhancing delivery and maximising savings.”