It’s time to put housing at top of the political agenda

There weren’t many winners in last week’s Spending Review, but housing was definitely one of them Promising £39bn in grants for affordable housing to be made available to local authorities, private developers, and housing associations over the next decade is just the boost that the housebuilding sector needs.

This enormous sum will go some way to addressing the current housing problems that England faces. Given that the Scottish Government is to receive record sums from the Westminster government through the Barnett formula it would surely be sensible, and vital for Holyrood to initiate a similar housebuilding plan.

Spending on this scale in England will start to address the huge shortages in the sector which will only get worse as the population increases. Replicating a similar scheme in Scotland would quickly address the major housing issues currently being faced.