First Minister John Swinney told Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to persuade his bosses in London to “desert the Tory agenda” if he wants to help Scotland meet its housebuilding targets.

The pair clashed in the parliament during First Minister’s Questions after Mr Sarwar accused Mr Swinney’s government of overseeing the highest number of homeless in a decade.

He said it was the parliament that “shamed” ministers into declaring a housing emergency earlier this year.

“But despite that, the Housing Minister Paul McLennan, insists this government has a ‘good track record’ on tackling homelessness,” said Mr Sarwar.

“Under this SNP government we have the lowest levels of home building by Housing Associations since Thatcher.

“Overall house building is down by 17%. And the affordable home building target is in tatters. 

“Paul McLennan simply cannot continue. The First Minister has a choice: put up with more failure or get to grips with the housing emergency, sack this Housing Minister and change direction.”

The First Minister hit back, accusing Mr Sarwar of “playing the man rather than the issue.”

He said: “Under this government, we have built, on average, 7,750 affordable homes each year, compared to when Mr Sarwar’s party were in charge, when the money was so abundant they couldn’t actually spend it, they only managed to build 5,448 houses.

“That says to me that this government is getting on with the job.”

He added: “Housing policy is our responsibility. But there is a budgetary question here. Our capital budget, [which] is what builds affordable homes, is facing a cut of near 9% under the current spending plans of the last Conservative government, and the incoming Labour government that they’re going to carry on with.”

He said he had raised with the Chancellor and the Deputy Prime Minister “the absolute total stupidity and folly of presiding over a 62% cut in the financial transactions budget.

“So, if Mr Sarwar would like to help Scotland in any way, shape or form, why doesn’t he persuade the UK Labour government to desert the Tory agenda and to start investing in our country?”

Milne site revived

Muir Homes, part of the Muir Group, has acquired the remaining Stewart Milne Group site in Auchterarder from the administrator, Teneo Financial Advisory. 

John Muir, founder and executive chairman of Muir Group, said: “The recent drop in interest rates, although slight, has positively impacted the housing market, reducing mortgage interest rates to below 3.9%, and in some cases, 3.7% with a 5-year fixed term.

“This has encouraged Muir Homes to strategically invest in bringing more homes to the market in the very near future.”

Muir Homes says that this boost has been reflected in developments being sold out in Peterhead and only a handful of homes remaining at Deeside, Laurencekirk, Stanley, and Glenboig. 

Muir Homes is starting on a number of new developments in Central Belt and Fife, including Dalgety Bay over coming months.

Morris & Spottiswood record year

Construction firm Morris & Spottiswood has announced record turnover of £128 million in 2023, a 25% rise from the previous year.

Part of the Morris & Spottiswood Group, its founding business, Morris & Spottiswood Ltd, also achieved an operating profit of £2.5m for the year ending 31 December 2023, up 9% from 2022.

Alongside the increase of turnover and profit, the accounts highlight the robust financial health of the business, with a strong balance sheet, healthy EBITDA, low debt, a high percentage of secured workload, and good pipeline visibility for the year ahead.