In June 2024, Homes for Scotland (HFS) took a bold step to fill a glaring gap in our national housing data. Our landmark report, Scotland’s SME Home Builders 2024: Data Review and Industry Insights, brought together for the first time a comprehensive picture of the state of Scotland’s SME home building sector—laying bare the vital role these businesses play, the ground they build on and the pressures threatening their survival.

The findings were sobering: since 2007, the number of SME home builders in Scotland has plummeted by two-thirds. 2023 alone saw a record number of dissolutions. The warning lights are flashing—and have been for some time.