News article 3/09/2012

(Issued 31 August 2012) 

Home building industry body Homes for Scotland has cautiously welcomed the latest Scottish Government housing statistics, which show an apparent increase in private sector starts for the 2011-12 financial year over 2010-11.

The organisation’s Chief Executive Philip Hogg said:

“If these figures are correct then, of course, this is encouraging news. However, this information jars with the feedback we are receiving from our member companies as well as other industry statistics which continue to indicate a very weak picture.

“Indeed, completions remain the ultimate measure of production and these show that private sector activity is continuing to fall and remains still less than half that of pre-downturn levels. In fact, you need to go back as far as 1970 to find a lower figure.

“The above, coupled with the latest statistics from the National House Building Council which highlight a 32% fall in the number of new homes registered in Scotland for the period of May – July 2012 compared with a year ago, mean that we can only give today’s report the most cautious of welcomes.”