John Swinney announces plan for national housing agency

John Swinney announced plans for a national housing agency called More Homes Scotland to speed up and lower the cost of building new homes; the Scottish government will give an update to Parliament in March.

John Swinney has announced plans to create a national housing agency called More Homes Scotland. The government says the body would deliver new homes more quickly and more affordably. Ministers declared a national housing emergency in 2024 amid shortages of social homes and rising homelessness. Key facts: - John Swinney announced More Homes Scotland as a national agency intended to speed delivery and reduce the cost of new homes. - Ministers declared a national housing emergency in 2024 and officials have reported shortages in social housing, increased homelessness, and rising property costs. - The Scottish government says it will update the Scottish Parliament in March; it states the agency would start operating in 2027-28 if the SNP returns to government and aims to be fully operational by 2028-29. Summary: The plan would centralise elements of housing delivery under a single public body while ministers point to ongoing shortages and a recent slowdown in completions. A parliamentary update is due in March and the government has set a conditional timeline for the agency to begin operating in 2027-28.