Tories vow to build 80,000 affordable homes by 2031

The Scottish Conservatives have set a target to build 80,000 affordable homes by 2031 and propose cutting housing regulations and replacing the national planning framework with council-led policies.

The Scottish Conservatives have published a paper setting a target to build 80,000 affordable homes by 2031 if they win power in May. The party says this would exceed calls from housing bodies for about 78,000 more homes by the end of the next parliamentary term. The plan centres on reducing housing regulation and replacing the national planning framework with policies set by individual councils. The party's housing spokeswoman, Meghan Gallacher, described the situation as a housing emergency and linked rising homelessness to current policies. Key points: - The paper sets a target of 80,000 affordable homes to be built by 2031 and was published ahead of the May election. - The proposals include a commitment to no new housing regulations during the next parliamentary term and scrapping the national planning framework in favour of council-level policies. - The plan would remove the ban on gas boilers in newbuild homes and roll back Passivhaus requirements such as triple-glazed windows and higher insulation standards. - The paper proposes ending the use of migrant or asylum hotels and restoring a local connection rule for homelessness support, as stated by the party. - The Scottish Conservatives are polling in fourth place ahead of the May election, behind the SNP, Labour and Reform UK. Summary: The proposals are intended to increase housing supply by cutting regulation and devolving planning decisions to councils, according to the party. Whether the measures proceed depends on the outcome of the May parliamentary election, since the party says they would take effect if it wins power.