The Housing Supply Task Force, the new government instituted body charged with tackling obstacles that are hampering the provision of more homes, has held its first meeting.
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell chaired the session with a membership drawn from local authorities, house-builders, the housing association movement, and housing interest groups - people in a position to bring about real change.
The Task Force will challenge the different sectors to find ways to supply more homes more quickly, while ensuring high environmental standards.
Higher demand for housing is not being matched by adequate supply. Average house prices rose by 72 per cent between 2002 and 2006, but only 2 per cent more homes were built in 2006 than in 2002.
Mr Maxwell said: "The Scottish government wants to see an increase in the number of homes that are being built across all sectors.
"This will be a major challenge, not just for the government but for local authorities, housing providers and the construction industry.
"I want this Task Force to shake up the current systems. Its focus will be on driving action where change is needed, rather than producing reports.
"The group is small but contains the main power brokers; representatives of organisations that I believe will help resolve the problems that get in the way of adequate housing delivery in Scotland."
(CD/SP)
Construction News
06/09/2007
Housing Supply Task Force Hold First Meeting

09/07/2025
Network Space Developments has formally submitted an outline planning application to redevelop the former Cadent Gas Works site on Winwick Road, just north of Warrington town centre.
The plans propose up to 100,000 sq ft of high-quality employment space, intended to accommodate a range of industria

09/07/2025
The City of London Corporation has granted planning permission for two major high-rise schemes at opposite ends of the City's historic skyscraper cluster, reinforcing the Square Mile’s reputation as a global business and cultural hub.
The approved projects, a 45-storey tower at 63 St Mary's Axe and

09/07/2025
Construction firm Kier has signed a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) with global healthcare company Haleon to deliver a state-of-the-art Oral Health Innovation Hub in Weybridge, Surrey.
The landmark project, announced by the UK Government during its International Investment Summit, will p

09/07/2025
One of the UK's largest housebuilders, Persimmon Homes Severn Valley, has submitted detailed proposals for the construction of 562 new homes in Cribbs Causeway, as part of the next phase of its major Fishpool Hill development near Bristol.
The latest reserved matters applications cover phase two of

09/07/2025
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has reached a significant milestone, following five consecutive weekends of intensive engineering work between Leeds and York to advance electrification of the line.
As part of the ongoing upgrades, engineers have now installed 7.5 kilometres of overhead line eq

09/07/2025
Plans to transform the Teviot Estate in Poplar have reached a major milestone, with Tower Hamlets Council granting a resolution to approve the £800 million redevelopment at its Strategic Development Committee meeting on Tuesday, 8 July.
The Hill Group and housing association Poplar HARCA are leadin

09/07/2025
Wates has joined Stepnell, Morgan Sindall, Kier, and BAM as a Gold Corporate Partner of the Centre for Construction Best Practice (CCBP), marking a major milestone in efforts to improve collaboration, innovation, and delivery standards across the UK construction sector.
The five major contractors a

09/07/2025
Roger Bullivant Limited (RBL) has been appointed by main contractor McLaren to carry out piling works for a new Boxing Academy and school development in Hackney, East London.
The high-profile project, commissioned by the Department for Education and the Boxing Academy Trust, will transform an unfin

09/07/2025
Key redevelopment projects at Central Library and Peterscourt, part of the wider Vine Towns Fund initiative, are set to move forward as Cabinet prepares to review an update and approve contracts at a meeting on 15 July.
The update outlines the final phase of the £25 million Vine project, which is p

09/07/2025
Seven of the UK's largest housebuilders have offered a combined £100 million settlement in response to a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into alleged information sharing practices that raised competition concerns.
The CMA launched the probe last year amid suspicions that Barra