£50million Fund Aims to Help Create 2000 New Construction Jobs in Scotlandd

The Scottish Government has announced that a £50 million fund is to be made available to support the creation of more affordable and social housing in the country. The funding is designed to create around 1,500 new affordable homes in the country and the Government hope to create up to 2,000 construction jobs.

Private sector to be involved in development of affordable housing

According to the Press Association, the total will be split, with £10 million for schemes open to all builders, £20 million for local authorities to build council houses and £20 million for housing associations.

A government source confirmed the idea behind the funding: "It is basically a blank canvas; we are saying to the private sector we want your ideas about to improve the supply of affordable housing."

Jonathan Fair, the chief executive of Homes for Scotland, Jonathan Fair, said: “Increasing efficiency in the delivery of new affordable homes is especially important at a time of such pressure on public finances. This is an area the private sector excels in.

"We therefore look forward to playing a key role in building the new, affordable homes Scotland needs whilst maximising the public's return on investment."

Government hopes to create 2,000 construction jobs

By involving the public sector in the project, the Government hopes to create up to 2,000 construction jobs.

Alex Neil, the housing minister for Scotland, told The Herald: "If we are to build anything like the number of affordable homes that we need, this will need to be done with far less government subsidy per house."