SLE welcomes focus on rural housing in new national agency

Press Release

The creation of a new Scottish national housing agency has the potential to be a positive step towards increasing the supply of much-needed homes across rural Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates said today.

First Minister John Swinney announced that the new executive agency, to be known as More Homes Scotland, will begin operating from 2027–2028 and become fully functional in 2028–2029, subject to the outcome of the Scottish Parliament election. The Scottish Government has confirmed that improving the delivery of rural and island housing will be a central focus of the agency’s work.

Anna Gardiner, Senior Policy Adviser (Business & Property) at Scottish Land & Estates, said:

“A single, national agency with a clear and dedicated focus on delivering new homes has potential to help address Scotland’s housing shortage and provide greater momentum behind new development.

“We particularly welcome the Scottish Government’s recognition that rural and island housing must be a priority, as communities across Scotland continue to face acute pressures on availability and affordability.

“Scottish Land & Estates and its members have a genuine commitment to delivering more homes in rural Scotland, and we hope that a new agency can provide the leadership, practical expertise and joined-up approach needed to help overcome the barriers that currently exist. By doing so, it has the potential not only to unlock much-needed housing, but also to make a meaningful contribution to tackling rural depopulation - an issue we have long argued requires sustained, coordinated action.”