Collaboration key if More Homes Scotland is to tackle country’s housing crisis

The role of a new Scottish government housing agency was examined by industry figures at an event focused on how it can help tackle the nation’s ongoing housing crisis.

It follows January’s announcement from the First Minister that the government is looking to establish a new national housing agency, More Homes Scotland, to bring together different parts of the housing system.

During a roundtable discussion involving senior housing, planning and development leaders at Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland, a key theme was the opportunity for the agency to help address fragmentation across the system and support a more joined-up approach to delivery.

Jocelyne Fleming, policy and public affairs lead for Scotland at the Chartered Institute of Building, said: “To address Scotland’s housing challenges, a national housing agency could provide clear strategic leadership and help align land, planning, infrastructure and finance behind delivery.

“Done well, it could support the efficient delivery of the high-quality, affordable homes Scottish communities so desperately need. We encourage all parties to consider how such an agency could enable a coordinated housing system to deliver new homes at scale and pace.”

Pauline Mills, technical director at housebuilding giant Taylor Wimpey, added: “More Homes Scotland needs the authority to set direction, remove barriers and ensure all agencies work together to accelerate housing delivery across Scotland.”

The roundtable event was hosted by Building Relations, a specialist PR and communications agency focused on property and the built environment, in partnership with Burness Paull, the Scottish legal firm, which has a significant housebuilding practice.

The Scottish government has proposed More Homes Scotland as a way of bringing together different parts of the housing system and is expected to start operating in 2027.

Rachel Colgan, founding director at Building Relations, said: “If this discussion unearthed one thing, it’s that collaboration across the housing sector will be key to making More Homes Scotland effective. The appetite to deliver more homes is there, but the sector needs practical support, better coordination and a system that helps turn ambition into delivery.”

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