Hillcrest takes top spot in Inside Housing’s ‘Biggest UK Builders’ survey

Hillcrest has topped this year’s Inside Housing magazine's Biggest Builders survey for the number of social rent properties delivered as a percentage of total completions in Scotland, with 89% of new homes developed for social rent.

Providing a boost to local social rent housing provision in Scotland, Hillcrest also scooped second place in the same category for the UK overall.

The annual survey examines hundreds of housing associations and house builders across the UK each year, and saw Hillcrest come second in Scotland – and sixth in the UK overall – for the number of new homes delivered as a percentage of the housing association’s existing properties.

Hillcrest said that the rankings reflect its ambitions for its ongoing development programme and the organisation’s growth across the east of Scotland.

In the 2021/22 financial year, Hillcrest delivered 329 new homes across Aberdeen, Dundee, Angus, and Edinburgh. Of these, 294 were for social rent, while 35 were for mid-market rent – an affordable housing option for those who may struggle to secure social rent homes but may also struggle to afford private rents or be unable to buy their own home.

These new homes included developments at Harris Drive and Countesswells in Aberdeen and the first phase of homes at the former Sunnyside Royal Hospital, just outside Montrose.

Hillcrest Homes’ Chief Executive, Angela Linton, said: “Our placing of first and second in Scotland in the social rent and completions categories, respectively, is a huge testament to the continued ambition and determination shown by our development team as well as the excellent relationships we have with our contractors.

“The past couple of years have been especially challenging with, firstly, the pandemic, then labour and material shortages causing issues. However, along with our contractors, we’ve ensured we’ve continued to deliver affordable homes for those in housing need.”