A Green MSP is challenging the Scottish Government’s housing minister to clarify if the government still plans to build 50,000 new, affordable homes, as promised in its election manifesto. Kevin Stewart wrongly told a Holyrood committee yesterday that his party had only pledged to “deliver” 50,000 affordable homes.
Andy Wightman, the Scottish Greens’ housing spokesperson says Mr Stewart gave the impression he was again watering down the SNP’s promise on building new houses at an appearance before the local government committee.
In response to Andy Wightman’s reminder that the SNP’s 2016 manifesto said the government would “build at least 50,000 more affordable homes”, Mr Stewart wrongly claimed that the SNP would merely “deliver” affordable homes, later calling the 50,000 promise a “target”.
Wightman, a Lothian MSP, said: “We’ve been calling for clarity for around a year on the 50,000 new homes figure promised by the SNP during the 2016 Holyrood election campaign.
“It is important that we get clarity on how many new homes will actually get built and how many will be taken from the existing supply. I sincerely hope that ministers are not attempting to back out of their promise on housing.
“Whilst bringing empty or private homes into the supply of affordable homes is welcome, we need to know how much of this activity the Scottish Government is planning for. The latest Quarterly housing statistics reveal that from April 2016 to end of December 2017, only 62% of the 11,758 affordable homes ‘delivered’ were actually new build homes. Of course, it is only new homes that increase overall supply and that is why the 50,000 ‘target’ of new build homes must be delivered as promised.”
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