Scotland’s home building industry today welcomed news that the number of residential properties sold during January to March this year was up 22.9 per cent on the same period in 2013.

Philip Hogg, Chief Executive of trade body Homes for Scotland (right), said:

“Today’s Registers of Scotland report highlights the third successive quarter where sales have been up over 22 per cent on the previous year. This is very encouraging, indicating continuing growth in consumer confidence as well as the improving availability of mortgages. There can be little doubt about the positive impact the Scottish Government’s Help to Buy shared equity scheme has had in this regard, accounting for some 900 sales since its launch last September.

“Given this proven success, we now call on the Scottish Government to extend the scheme until 2020 in line with the commitment recently announced south of the border, in order that home builders and buyers here are not disadvantaged.”

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