Johnstone slams SNP for missing housing targets

A Parliamentary Question from Alex Johnstone revealed that the Scottish Government has missed its target on the number of houses to be built under phase one of the National Housing Trust.

Some 1025 were originally pledged to be built under phase one, contributing to the Scottish Government's commitment to build 6,000 units a year. However, it has emerged that they have managed to build a mere 16 houses, with plans to build only 598 more.

Scottish Conservative Housing Spokesman, Alex Johnstone MSP said:

"To have just built 16 houses from a target of over a thousand is ludicrous. The SNP are significantly missing their housing targets and it is simply not acceptable.

"As the National Housing Trust was also meant to support the SNP's commitment to build 6,000 units a year this shortfall has further repercussions. They are now seriously behind on their promise to build affordable homes, and when there is such a demand for them this is especially concerning.

"With the SNP having slashed the budget for housing in this high handed manner it is clear that they do not consider it a priority. It is now hard to see how they will ever make up for this shortfall.

"There is a serious question over where families who need these homes will go and it is time the SNP started treating the matter with the attention it deserves."

From the Official Report, 26th January 2012:

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes will be constructed under phase 1 of the national housing trust initiative. (S4O-00602)

The Minister for Housing and Transport (Keith Brown): Contracts for 614 homes have been signed under phase 1 of the national housing trust initiative and a further deal is being pursued. The first 16 homes are already complete in Stirling and have been let to tenants.

Alex Johnstone: Under phase 1, only 12 local authorities moved forward. Five dropped out, which left only seven in place. The minister originally projected the construction of 1,025 homes, which appears to have been ambitious. Given that the figures show clearly that phase 1 was unattractive to the vast majority of councils and private developers, what evidence can he offer to suggest that phase 2 will not be a similar embarrassment?

Keith Brown: The first piece of evidence is that more than half of Scottish councils have expressed an interest in going forward to phase 2. There is also the fact that the 600-plus houses that are being built under phase 1 are supporting about 1,000 jobs. As John Swinney said yesterday, for an investment of about £2 million by the Scottish Government, more than £100 million has been spent in the construction industry. That seems to be a productive use of Scottish Government resources. Given councils‟ interest in phase 2, the initiative is likely to grow in the future.

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