The ambitious plans set forth by the Scottish Government regarding new housing appear to be under considerable threat, according to a series of economic recovery scenarios produced by Homes for Scotland. The body which represents the builders of 95 per cent of Scotland's new homes has even suggested it could take several decades to reach the appointed target of 35,000 new homes coming onto the market each year.

With the economic slowdown affecting house builders in particular, it is expected that Scottish house-building will fall to its lowest level next year since 1924, honourably excepting the years of World War II. More alarmingly, it could be the mid 2020s before output levels reach those of last year, as HfS's chief executive Jonathan Fair explains: "Our analysis confirms the devastating effect the credit crunch is having on the delivery of much-needed new homes across all tenures in Scotland.  These scenarios must be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks the housing market is simply experiencing a ‘necessary' short-term correction. [The Scottish Government] must think strategically and massively accelerate its Affordable Housing Investment Programme to bring forward the delivery of new homes in 2009/2010."