Mr McLennan joined Prosper members in the South of Scotland for an “In Conversation With…” event at Eco Group, Annan, last week, to explore opportunities for the future of housing in the region.

The event showed that the South of Scotland is ideally placed to be “Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently”, said Garry Legg, head of strategy, planning and partnerships at South of Scotland Enterprise.

Discussion during the visit focused on support to unlock housing developments and the fundamental role housing plays in growing the regional economy.

Recent reports have highlighted the shortage of homes in Scotland and the need for different thinking and solutions such as modular construction, circular manufacturing, and innovative off-site housing models.

Prosper’s “Housing Supply For A Growing Economy”, published recently, emphasises the importance of innovation as a lever for economic growth. It highlights the need to accelerate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and invest in off-site manufacturing and innovation. It includes VASO by Eco as one of its case studies.

The report makes 21 recommendations starting with the need for the Scottish Government to set an ambition of 25,000 homes being built per year amid a range of measures to prioritise the role of housing in driving growth.

A “Key Worker Homes in the South of Scotland” report published by South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership this month found that 2,330 staff – almost 10 per cent of the workforce – are affected by housing shortages. Almost 80 per cent of employers report that housing significantly impacts recruitment and retention.

VASO By Eco, which will manufacture composite construction panels made from recycled glass, is one of a range of world-first decarbonisation technologies and carbon mitigation strategies developed by the pioneering business, to deliver industrialised construction solutions to help address Scotland’s and the UK’s housing shortage.

Led by founder Eddie Black, Eco specialises in Contract Manufacturing, Original Brand Manufacturing, and Services to Manufacturing across the UK.

Eddie Black said: “It was a pleasure to host the Prosper event and we were delighted to welcome Housing Minister Paul McLennan to Eco HQ in Annan. It is over a year since the Scottish Government declared a housing emergency and finding solutions is critical to Scotland’s economic growth and, from a South of Scotland perspective, how we retain and attract talent to our region.

“The opportunity to discuss industrialised construction, the speed and efficiency VASO By Eco offers as a systematic solution to the crisis, with the Minister and invited guests, offered an approach from outside the traditional silos and provided optimism that there are innovative solutions being developed to take the stress away from traditional supply chains and create a housing opportunity by circular and advanced manufacturing.”

Speaking after the event, Garry Legg, commented: “There is a unanimous consensus that we must do things differently to address the housing challenge, with partners in the South already coming together to take the action they know is required.

“Some of that will require wholesale change, which will take time. Much can, however, be achieved via flexing what we have and do now, and in affording greater autonomy.

“Arguably, nowhere else in Scotland is such a determined, action-orientated, co-ordinated and truly collaborative effort to boost housing delivery underway. We are a region leading by example.

“Coupled with the scale and nature of available sites and underpinned by the ambition and tenacity of many of our communities and businesses –  who are already collaborating in new ways to pioneer bold and innovative solutions which could benefit Scotland and beyond – the South of Scotland is up for, and ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently.”

Mhairi Duncan, regional manager, Prosper, added: “Prosper gives members the chance to directly shape government thinking and action, and our event with Mr McLennan is a perfect example of this.

“The event explored the opportunities for the future of housing in the region and gave members in the region a chance to share their priorities.”

The event took place at Eco Group, Annan Business Park Way, Annan, on May 21.