Fraser Lynes: Accelerating Scotland’s housing delivery through collaboration and scale

Scotland stands at a pivotal moment in its housing journey. The need for high-quality, energy-efficient homes has never been more acute, and yet the industry continues to face the headwinds of planning delays, skills shortages, rising costs and a chronic shortfall of supply. As we look ahead to 2026, it is clear that delivering the homes our communities deserve will require not just resilience, but bold ambition and collaborative leadership across the sector.

That is why Cruden’s new growth phase, propelled by BGF’s recent investment, represents more than capital injection. It is a clear vote of confidence in our strategy, our people and our long-term vision to accelerate the delivery of sustainable homes across Scotland. For an 82-year-old business with a heritage of more than 135,000 homes delivered, this is a defining moment: a chance to move faster, scale smarter and play an even greater role in shaping Scotland’s housing future.

We enter 2026 with an exciting pipeline of opportunity. Cruden has more than 4,500 homes in its development pipeline across the Central Belt and into new geographic locations, a platform that positions us among Scotland’s most active and agile independent homebuilders.

These projects represent not just units on a land schedule, but the next generation of neighbourhoods: places that blend sustainability, placemaking and long-term value.

A standout example is Granton Waterfront, where we will deliver 847 net zero-ready homes as part of one of Scotland’s most significant regeneration schemes. This development speaks to Cruden’s future: communities designed around low-carbon living and a fabric-first approach that exceeds building standards and supports Scotland’s transition to net zero. Work begins this year and will see us bring to life a landmark coastal community, built for the next century.

But our ambitions don’t stop at individual projects. The investment from BGF accelerates our ability to bring forward major sites from our extensive landbank and unlock emerging opportunities where demand is greatest. It allows us to expand into new areas at pace, strengthen partnerships with landowners, housing associations and local authorities, and continue to innovate in how we design and deliver homes.

This is particularly important in the context of Scotland’s housing crisis. We cannot ignore the reality: the gap between supply and demand continues to widen, with younger buyers, downsizers and families all struggling to find homes that meet their needs. As an industry, we must embrace new models of delivery, from joint ventures to land-led affordable housing, and adopt more collaborative approaches that blend public and private sector strengths. Cruden’s track record, including its partnerships portfolio and experience across all tenures, gives us a firm foundation to help close this gap at scale.

2026 will also mark a new chapter in our leadership. As I step into the role of CEO, supported by our CFO, Euan Haggerty, Cruden builds on the firm foundations established by those who have led the business before us. We move forward with renewed clarity of purpose and a continued commitment to long-term, sustainable growth. The evolution of our leadership structure is not simply an organisational change; it reflects a business carefully preparing for its next chapter - progressive, focused, and firmly committed to delivering for Scotland.

Cruden has always been at its best when we combine our heritage with forward-thinking innovation. Today, that means doubling down on sustainable construction, expanding into new markets, and deepening the partnerships that allow us to build thriving communities. It also means maintaining the agility and pragmatism that have been the hallmarks of our success for eight decades.

BGF’s investment accelerates our trajectory, validates our strategy, and positions us to play a leading role in Scotland’s housing renaissance. The challenges facing our sector are real, but so too is the opportunity. At Cruden, we are ready to meet it head-on.