Scotland has plenty of ambition when it comes to housing. The health of our housing system, as well as the decline in housebuilding, have rightfully received a lot of attention in recent years.

Across the country, there are unmistakable evidence that the system is under significant strain. Over 33,000 households presently have open homelessness applications, and over 10,000 children are residing in temporary housing throughout Scotland.

These are not simply statistics. They represent thousands of families who have been waiting longer for permanent homes, as well as towns dealing with a long-standing shortage.

Simultaneously, the number of dwellings being developed is declining. Scotland delivered little over 20,000 new dwellings in 2023-24, a more than 16% decrease from the previous year, according to official housing statistics.

Simply put, we are building fewer homes during a time of dire need.

There has been a lot of optimistic talk about addressing the housing crisis and reforming the planning system, particularly the implementation of National Planning Framework 4. However, in practice, several of these modifications have hampered rather than facilitated delivery.

One of the most enduring issues is viability. Planning requirements under Section 75 agreements are intended to guarantee that new developments contribute effectively to local infrastructure and services – a role that is both important and widely recognized. However, in fact, the related expenses, along with major discrepancies in how they are administered among local authorities, can make residential development increasingly difficult to implement.

Even if a site is physically suitable, penal S75 costs might result in housing property prices being much lower than alternate uses, such as industrial or commercial development. The consequences are obvious: land that could provide hundreds of much-needed new homes is instead diverted to other purposes simply because housing cannot compete commercially.

That is clearly not the intended effect, especially given how many councils have declared housing emergencies.

Another concern is the diminishing supply of deliverable land. Many potential home sites have been zoned for years but have not been developed due to substantial obstacles such as challenging ground conditions, infrastructure needs, or large upfront expenses.

Brownfield land is a critical component of the answer. Cruden delivers more than 85% of its locations on previously developed property. However, brownfield development alone will not alleviate Scotland’s housing shortage. These sites are frequently hard and expensive to unlock, and depending only on them will not provide the amount of homes that Scotland requires.

The industry is also affected by a lack of available land. SME developers are finding it increasingly difficult to compete for land as fewer locations become available. This is significant because a successful housing sector requires a diverse range of enterprises to deliver homes in various places and communities.

Despite the recognition of a housing urgency, many projects continue to progress slowly through the system. Homes can be provided faster, but this requires greater coordination among government, local governments, planners, and the sector itself.

We are nearing a watershed moment, as all 32 Scottish local authorities prepare new Local Development Plans that will determine housing delivery over the next decade. Councils must be courageous in assigning adequate land across various locales and site typologies. Without that conduit, housing delivery will be hampered.

There may be a chance to speed up the process from LDP allocation to house delivery. If land is assigned in a new plan, there should be a stronger presumption in favor of development and a shorter path to approval.

The Scottish Government’s plan to establish a new national housing agency, More Homes Scotland, intends to simplify and scale housing delivery. This ambition is admirable, but the suggested schedule indicates that the agency will not be fully operating for some years.

As an industry, we are ready to contribute. Solutions exist to help liberate housing in Scotland, but implementing them will necessitate faster choices, less superfluous red tape, and true collaboration.

Scotland’s housing goals are clear. We now need the delivery engine to match them.

Ten new affordable homes are being built on Trescott Road in Northfield for Birmingham families who are trying to purchase a home in the midst of the housing crisis.

Birmingham City Council has inked an agreement with developer TR Partnership Homes to construct homes on the property for the housing association Midland Heart, which will own and operate the properties.

All homes in the development will be inexpensive and available for social rent.

In September 2025, the council reached an agreement with TR Partnership dwellings and Midland Heart to create the dwellings. Families are scheduled to move into the properties around June 2026.

The venture is one of many that the council has undertaken with developers and housing associations to accelerate the supply of affordable houses in the city.

Construction has begun on four development sites, where the council is collaborating with a developer and a housing association to build 383 affordable houses. Construction on a fifth development site on Boleyn Road is anticipated to begin in late March, adding 70 affordable houses to the total of 453.

Cllr Nicky Brennan, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, stated:

“In the past year alone, the council has built 1,000 affordable homes.

“We hope to speed that delivery by collaborating with developers and housing associations to convert empty land into more affordable houses.

“Trescott Road is an excellent example of how quickly homes can be delivered working in this way, and I am delighted that 100% of the homes on this development will be affordable.

“I would encourage more partners to collaborate with us so that we can quickly increase the amount of cheap, warm, safe, and energy-efficient houses available to Birmingham people.”

Chris Miller, Director of Development at Midland Heart, said:

“Trescott Road is another obvious illustration of how we’re speeding up the delivery of affordable housing for Birmingham citizens.

“With a pipeline of 1,200 homes planned by 2028, we’re working with partners right across the city to make sure more families have access to the safe and decent homes they need.”

Steve Thompson, Managing Director of TR Partnerships Homes, said:

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Birmingham City Council and Midland Heart to provide these much-needed affordable houses on Trescott Road.

“Developments like this show what can be accomplished when organisations collaborate with a shared commitment to addressing the housing crisis.”

“We look forward to seeing these high-quality homes completed and welcoming families to a safe, secure place they can call home in June.”