The annual Homes for Scotland Awards on Friday (17 May) was a fitting end to New Homes Week. The highlight of the housebuilding calendar, the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell, called it a celebration of design, development and delivery.
With CALA Homes winning small and medium private developments of the year on their way to being crowned Home Builder of the Year 2019, there was success too for Stewart Milne Homes, Sanctuary Housing, Barratt Homes and Contract Scotland.
While the awards focused on great places, Nicola Barclay, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, stressed that people are at the heart of the housebuilding industry. With customer satisfaction in new build properties in Scotland consistently higher than south of the border, the aim is to deliver more homes to meet the needs and aspirations of our growing population.
In her keynote speech, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed the Scottish Government's ambition for a housing system that works for everyone. With the Ministers' vision and routemap for Housing to 2040 due to be published next Spring, she also announced two publications: the first report on stakeholder feedback on the challenges facing housing in Scotland; and the report and recommendations of the Short Life Working Group on New Housing and Future Construction Skills.
The latter report highlights that the construction industry has much to be proud of, but for the sector to grow and deliver the 28,000 new homes per annum which are needed over the next decade, all stakeholders will need to work together. Increased numbers of planners and building standards officers are recommended, along with a new Minister for Construction.
With consultation on the future of housing continuing over the coming months, this is an exciting opportunity for everyone in the industry to help formulate a shared vision for Housing to 2040.
As the stakeholder report notes, housing is about more than bricks and mortar; it's about people.
And we can all deliver more.
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