The first Housing Investment Taskforce meeting was held in London and attended by housing minister Paul McLennan and various stakeholders from housing and finance.

The purpose of the taskforce is to identify ways of unlocking investment in housing by bringing together key interests of investors and those receiving funding.

Housing minister Paul McLennan said: “The Scottish Government has led the UK in housing by delivering more than 128,000 affordable homes since 2007, over 90,000 of which were for social rent, including over 24,000 council homes. We will invest £556 million in affordable housing in 2024-25, the majority of which will be for social rent. And we are keen to do more to boost housing in Scotland.

“Therefore, the Scottish Government is committed to encouraging new and different approaches to attracting investment into our housing sector and the first meeting of the new short-life Housing Investment Taskforce was an important first step in that.”

Tony Brooks, executive chair at Moda Living, said: “We are pleased to be a member of the Housing Task Force, the emerging remit of which includes building investor confidence and attracting new investment into the housing market.

“Removing barriers to investment so businesses like ours can deliver the quality homes which are so urgently needed in Scotland is crucial, and the new Housing Bill has a fundamental part to play in building this. We intend to be a vocal, honest and proactive member of the Task Force and hope that the Scottish Government will listen and react in an astute constructive manner.”

Karen Campbell, group director, The Springfield Group, added: “As a housebuilder who wants to increase the delivery of energy efficient homes for sale, for private rent and for the affordable sector, we are pleased to be part of this important Taskforce at such a pivotal time. Scotland needs to build more homes and the Taskforce must tackle barriers head on to compete for investment and attract new funding into its housing sector.”