Affordable housing is on a cliff edge as the number of new affordable houses set to be built in Scotland has collapsed.

In 2023, the number of affordable houses starting construction plummeted by 42 percent compared to March 2020.

In the last year alone, affordable housing starts decreased by a startling 15 percent.

The number of affordable housing approvals – where the planning for new homes is given the green light to go ahead – has also decreased by a whopping 50 percent since 2020 and 18 percent in the past year alone.

This double whammy means fewer houses are being started and even fewer are being approved for completion, costing hundreds of Scots access to affordable homes as the Scottish supply pipeline plummets.

This is a marked difference from all-sector housing, where starts have decreased by 25 percent since 2020, showing that affordable housing is being hit particularly hard by government inaction.

Ms Baillie’s office is inundated with calls and emails on a regular basis with people requiring a move to a different property due to a change in their circumstances however these figures lay bare the problems that will be caused by a shortage in affordable homes.

Jackie Baillie said: “These shocking figures come at a time of crisis for many Scots and signal a supreme failure from the Scottish Government.

“When so many people are struggling to keep afloat, maintaining our affordable housing provision is even more vital than ever. Every day, my office is dealing with people who are struggling because they desperately need a move due to a change in their housing needs. The reality is there are not enough affordable homes now and these figures show that this will only get worse.

“Instead, this programme has been left dangling off a cliff edge by the SNP as target after target is missed.

“Scottish Labour are intent on ensuring everyone has a home they can be proud of by improving our housing supply, building more homes and making better use of the housing stock we have.”