THE Scottish Government must put in place a coherent plan to tackle Scotland’s ‘housing crisis’.

That was the message from Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader, Alex Rowley, this week as he visited new council house building projects to highlight the level of housing need across Scotland and confirmed he has written to Cabinet Secretary Angela Constance calling on the government to publish a ‘National House Building Strategy’ for Scotland.

Since his days as leader of Fife Council and a member of Cowdenbeath Area Committee, he has been deeply concerned about people facing problems being able to get tenancies.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, Mr Rowley, said: “We cannot and will not tackle poverty or inequality in Scotland until we address Scotland’s ‘housing crisis’.

"Whilst the SNP Government have said they will build a minimum of 50,000 affordable houses over the next five years of which 35,000 will be for social rent, the lack of detail and a strategy for delivery is cause for concern.

“I am asking the Government to work with local councils to establish housing partnerships that can address the availability of land, the requirements of planning, local housing needs analysis and the creation of private public partnerships to ensure mixed housing developments across communities.

"Done correctly, a new house build programme can address many issues in the current housing waiting lists supporting peoples changing housing, personal and wellbeing needs".

The Labour deputy also highlighted the economic opportunities for local jobs, training and apprenticeships stating that a national 5 year house build programme with the potential to commit to ten years can allow for proper planning of apprentice programmes that will tackle the skills deficit in the building industry.

He said: “None of this is rocket science, we have a clear commitment from the Government to build 50,000 affordable houses 35,000 of which is for social rent, this in turn brings real opportunity for addressing housing need, creating jobs and giving thousands of youngsters a trade.

"What we need is a clear plan and a strategy for delivering it nationally and locally”.