House builders are demanding action from the Scottish Government to tackle a shortfall of 110,000 homes.

Jane Wood, the chief executive of industry body Homes for Scotland, insisted it was “harder than ever” to build new properties, as she said the country needs a policy environment which “supports development rather than frustrating it”.

Decisions on applications for major housing developments take on average 39 weeks, Homes for Scotland said, despite a target of within 16 weeks.

Speaking as the organisation prepared to launch its new five-year strategy, Wood warned that a lack of action could impact on the viability of some projects and could also hinder the life chances of future generations

She said: “The housing crisis has already had a drastic and far-reaching impact on Scotland’s economic and social development.

“If we don’t get this sorted, the consequences on the life chances of future generations will be even worse.”

Despite accepting that new housing developments could be a “contentious issue”, she called for “those of us who already have homes to be more supportive of those who don’t”.

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