Friday November 13th 2020
New house built by Barratt Homes in Wallyford
The number of new homes built in East Lothian this year is three times the national average. A UK survey of new houses registered in 2020 has seen 392 in the county compared to the average of 128.
Kenny MacAskill, East Lothian MP, said he was not surprised by the high number of new homes when compared to the rest of the country.
He said: “These figures show that, even during Covid, housebuilding in East Lothian is significantly greater than other areas around the country.
“The attractions for all ages are understandable. It’s a great place to live.”
However, he called for more to be done to ensure the services people needed were available when they moved into their new homes.
He said: “As a new arrival myself, I’m not going to criticise others who’ve done likewise. However, infrastructure must be able to cope and facilities must match the needs of the expanded communities.
“If that isn’t done then what existed before for long-term residents is lost and what’s hoped for by new arrivals isn’t delivered.
“Doctors and dentists, transport and education, need rolled out, not just new housing. It’s communities we’re building, not just housing being constructed.
“All levels of government need to do more and better to achieve the quality of life the county should have.”
The latest figures showed that 216 new homes were built in the first quarter of this year, with 108 built and registered between April and June and a further 68 completed between July and September.
The numbers built to date remain below last year’s total new homes count of 650.
The figures were released by the National House Building Council (NHBC).
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