There were 15,991 new build homes completed in Scotland in the 12 months to June 2016, an increase of 591 homes, or 4%, on the 15,400 homes completed in the previous year — but new build starts fell 4% over the same period — according to Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

The latest quarterly housing statistics for Scotland cover new builds, affordable housing supply and local authority right to buy applications and sales.

They show there were increases in the number of new build completions over the year to end June 2016 for private-led new builds (up by 537 homes or 5%), housing association new builds (up by 46 homes or 2%), and local authority new builds (up by 8 homes or 1%), when compared to the previous year.

There were a total of 16,450 new build starts over the year to end June 2016, a decrease of 681 homes, or 4%, on the 17,131 starts in the previous year.

There were increases in the number of housing association approvals (up by 418 homes or 16%) and local authority starts (up by 334 homes or 26%), while private-led new build starts decreased by 1,433 homes (11%), when compared to the previous year.