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.

Forster Group, Scotland’s leading provider of integrated roofing and solar solutions, has completed a major installation for Fife Creamery, marking the company’s biggest project to date for a client in the food and drink industry.

Following an investment of £230,000, Fife Creamery appointed Forster Group to install over 700 roof-mounted solar panels for its Innovation Hub and refrigeration warehouse in Kirkcaldy – covering an area the size of five tennis courts.

Last week, Homes for Scotland held its annual conference in our great capital city, less than a fortnight after City of Edinburgh Council declared a housing emergency. Sadly, this reflects the unfortunate reality across the country. I believe that Scotland’s people deserve so much better and it’s time to stop going round in circles on what is the foundation of our society.

Everyone should have a place to call home and as I mark my first year as Chief Executive at Homes for Scotland, I have been pondering what ‘home’ means.

The reality is that we don’t have enough homes to meet the needs of those living and working in Scotland – threatening the life chances of our young people, impacting health and education outcomes, increasing social inequality and further degrading our social and economic wellbeing.

The UK has always had a fascination with homes, but in a post-Covid world, our connections with our homes have become even stronger. According to the Office for National Statistics, 40% of working adults are now working from home - over three times as many as pre-Covid. Homes are no longer just for living. As all encompassing hubs to live, work, play and entertain, architects have more focus than ever on designing homes to enhance lives and create places where families can grow.

Scotland needs more homes. With a shortfall now approaching 100,000 houses since 2007, this is beyond doubt and we require a robust and ambitious plan to put this right. The Scottish Parliament will shortly vote on such a plan, the fourth iteration of the National Planning Framework (NPF4).

Homes for Scotland’s annual conference takes place tomorrow. While it will be our organisation’s tenth meeting, it will be my first. As the new chief executive, I realise how privileged I am to be representing a sector which has such an important role to play in Scotland’s social wellbeing, economic success and transition to net zero. Only three months into my tenure, I am already inspired by the passion, determination and resilience of those in the sector.