THE number of new social houses being built in Scotland has plummeted by a fifth, the latest figures show.

Statistics show 725 social sector homes were completed between July and September – 20 per cent fewer than in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the total amount built in the 12 months to September stood at 3,530, nine per cent fewer than in the previous year.

Scottish Labour’s housing spokeswoman Pauline McNeill branded the figures “desperately poor”.

She said: “After a decade in power, the Nationalists have turned a housing shortage into a housing crisis, and these figures suggest the problem will only continue to get worse.

“Labour has previously revealed that the SNP government would need to seriously step up the levels of house buildings to meet their targets by 2021. Today’s statistics all but confirm those targets will be missed.”

The Scottish Government has previously pledged to build 35,000 social homes by 2021.

Scotland’s chief statistician said work had started on 19,598 new build homes across all sectors over the year ending June 2017 – an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year.

But critics pointed to figures showing the number of new homes completed annually has fallen by a third since 2007.

Scottish Conservative housing spokesman Graham Simpson insisted the SNP had “presided over a crisis in housing and it is only getting worse”.

He added: “With fewer houses being built, fewer people have any reasonable access to owning their own home and gaining all the benefits this brings to their families and finances.

“The Scottish Conservatives have already suggested innovative policies that would tackle this decline and help everyone own their own home.

“We are committed to delivering 100,000 new homes over the course of this parliament – with half of them affordable housing.

“We are dedicated to working with all stakeholders to make this commitment a reality.

“As the Finance Minister finishes his budget preparations he must consider more radical action. This is a housing crisis that the SNP has created and must solve.”

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “The Scottish Government is determined to accelerate and increase affordable housing supply across Scotland to reach our ambitious target of 50,000 affordable homes in this parliamentary term backed by investment of £3 billion. 

Housing approvals over the last 12 month have increased by 12% on the previous year, indicating a strong increase in the pipeline of supply and we are confident that we will meet the 50,000 target – the target is ambitious so we know the challenge ahead but we have shown we can deliver on housing and we will continue to do so.

“Since 2007 we have delivered nearly  71,000 affordable homes, including 48,813 homes for social rent which is a remarkable achievement we can be proud of. “Councils across Scotland have already received funding totalling £1.754 billion to March 2021, providing the certainty needed to deliver our ambitious target.”