The number of newly built homes in Scotland has fallen, while construction began on 5,000 fewer houses in 2023 compared with 2022, according to new figures from the Scottish Government.
Housing association newbuild starts were at their lowest (2,073) since 1988, while local authority starts (1,192) were at their lowest since 2013.
There were 20,992 newbuild completions last year, 2,701 fewer than the year before representing an 11% drop.
Meanwhile, there were 16,017 starts on newbuild homes last year, a drop of nearly a quarter (5,009) from 2022.
Private sector starts were at their lowest level since 2020, when CV19 impacted the industry at 12,572. Prior to that, the number hadn't been that low since 2013.
The figures come months after the Scottish Government slashed the affordable housing budget by nearly £200m in December's Budget.
But Housing Minister Paul McLennan has defended the Scottish Government's record.
"Scotland has delivered more than 128,000 affordable homes since April 2007, over 70% of which were for social rent, in turn helping to create strong, sustainable communities.
“In the year 2022-2023, Scotland delivered by far the most affordable homes per head of the population of any country in the UK – 69% higher than the rate in England – building on our track record of doing more than any other part of the UK to provide and keep social homes.
“There’s no doubt that inflation, supply chain issues and labour shortages linked to Brexit have created a challenging environment, which is reflected in today’s statistics.
“Despite UK Government cuts to the capital budget, the Scottish Government also continues to invest heavily to support housing supply.”