Scottish Housing Market Review Q2 2026

10. Housing Supply

For a broader analysis of the latest housing supply data, which includes information on the geographical distribution of new build and affordable housing supply across local authorities, visit the Housing Statistics for Scotland webpage.

10.1. New Build

In the year ending March 2026, there were 17,268 new-build completions in Scotland, 1,914 fewer (-10%) than in the same period a year ago. Within this period, private-sector completions fell from 14,711 to 13,494 (-8%). Meanwhile, social-sector completions also fell but at a steeper rate from 4,471 to 3,774 (-16%).

In the year ending March 2026, the number of new-build starts was 14,955, an annual fall of 4.4%. Over the same period, private-sector starts fell from 12,501 to 11,018 (-12%). In contrast, starts in the social sector increased from 3,147 to 3,937 –an annual increase of 25%.

Source: Scottish Government

10.2. Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP)

Quarterly affordable housing supply statistics are used to inform progress against Scottish Government affordable housing delivery targets, which set out an ambition to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70% will be for social rent and 10% will be in rural and island communities. As of the end of March 2026, 35,368 affordable homes have been completed towards the target. These completions consist of 27,297 (77%) homes for social rent, 5,089 (14%) for affordable rent, and 2,982 (8%) for affordable home ownership.

The number of AHSP completions fell from 7,443 in the year ending March 2025 to 6,832 (-8%) in the year ending March 2026. In contrast, over this period, AHSP starts increased from 5,424 to 7,421 (37%), while approvals increased from 4,775 to 6,787 (42%).

Source: Scottish Government