Surge in Scotland’s Build to Rent sector as pipeline leaps to more than 7,000 homes

The pipeline of homes in Scotland’s Build to Rent (BTR) sector has increased by a third in the past year to reach more than 7,200, according to a new report.

Surge in Scotland’s Build to Rent sector as pipeline leaps to more than 7,000 homes

A £100m Clydeside build-to-rent development

The latest research from property firm Rettie & Co found that 4,000 homes are due to be delivered in Glasgow, with around 2,000 in Edinburgh and 1,000 in Aberdeen.

As well as providing much-needed new homes, the sector is producing a significant economic impact, with the value of construction contracts in Glasgow alone around £0.5 billion, according to the report.

Rettie said there is capacity for more growth, with BTR supply less than 2% of total private rented sector households in Scotland, compared with 3% in the wider UK and close to 9% in London.

Gillian Mclees, head of BTR at Rettie & Co, said: “What is encouraging about the latest numbers is that BTR is well up against last year, with Glasgow in particular being a shining example of how public-private partnerships can operate effectively to address the continuing and chronic undersupply of housing.

“This shows that local authorities can work effectively with institutional investors to provide a new housing tenure and meet housing need in Scottish cities, as they have done down south in the likes of London and Manchester.”

John Boyle, Rettie & Co’s director of research and strategy, added: “It’s notable that, in addition to providing new homes, the BTR sector is now producing significant economic impact, with the value of construction contracts in Glasgow alone at around half a billion pounds.”

In June 2018, Rettie & Co was appointed by PfP Capital, a subsidiary of regeneration group Places for People (PfP), to support the delivery of 1,000 affordable homes across Scotland following a long-term loan of £47.5 million from the Scottish Government.

Share icon
Share this article: