Social sector new housebuilding

The social sector housing (local authority and housing association units combined) accounted for just under a quarter (23.3%) of all new build homes completed in 2024-25.

Social sector new build completions (4,490) in 2024-25 were down 15% (-811 homes) from the previous financial year. There were 3,151 new build starts in the social sector, with a decrease of 10% (-355 homes) from the year before. Completions were the lowest since 2016-17 (excluding 2020-21 where Covid-19 impacted housebuilding) and starts were the lowest since 2012-13.

Chart 3: Social sector new build housing, Scotland, 2003-04 to 2024-25

Chart 3 shows the number of local authority and housing association new build homes started and completed each year since 2003-04. In 2024-25 there were 1,698 local authority led completions and 1,400 starts. There were 2,792 housing association led completions and 1,751 starts.

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25 local authority led starts increased (8%, 102 homes) and housing association starts decreased (-21%, -457 homes). There were decreases in both local authority led and housing association completions (-12%, -231 homes; -17%, -580 homes).

Map C below shows the rates of social sector new build completions in each local authority area for 2024-25 per 10,000 of the population.

Map C: New build housing – social sector completions: rates per 10,000 population, in 2024-25

Social sector new completion build rates were highest in Aberdeen City with a rate of over 18 homes per 10,000 population.

There were three local authorities who built no social sector homes in 2024-25 (Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde).

Local authority new build rates were highest in East Renfrewshire and South Ayrshire, having rates of over 15 homes per 10,000 population. Seven local authorities built no local authority homes in 2024-25 (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, and West Lothian). This excludes the six local authorities that transferred their stock to housing associations so do not build new local authority houses (Argyll & Bute, Dumfries & Galloway, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Na h-Eileanan Siar and Scottish Borders).

Housing association new build rates were highest in Dundee City with  a rate of over 15 homes per 10,000 population. Six local authorities built no housing association homes in 2024-25 (Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire).

The latest quarterly data and comparison to the corresponding quarter in the previous financial year are shown in the ‘Quarterly Comparisons’ section. Timeseries data along with local authority breakdowns are contained in the supporting Excel tables.